N. Caldwell Police Officers, Firefighters Commended

A North Caldwell fiery car crash in which two vehicles each struck trees and resulted in three of the five victims suffering serious injuries, including one being hospitalized for more than a week with a broken back, could have been even worse, Police Chief Mark Deuer said.

The chief and the borough's governing body commended police officers Charles Krueser and Michael Cristofano along with firefighters Henry Forstenhausler, Tim Peterson and Steve Gilson at Tuesday night's council meeting for their efforts in rescuing a North Caldwell family from the crash at the intersection of East Greenbrook Road and Mountain Avenue during the early-morning hours of Sunday, Aug. 1.

Mayor Mel Levine presented each of them at the start of the meeting with proclamations for "Appreciation of Outstanding Service."

"These firefighters and police officers went far beyond the call of duty," said Levine, who later stepped down to become the borough's administrator. "Without them, we would have had lives lost. Their attentiveness, their quickness and their know-how was just incredible."

As first reported by The Caldwells Patch, Michael Michura, 47, and his son, Joseph Michura, 19, were allegedly engaged in a racing game with each other as they travelled eastbound in separate vehicles along East Greenbrook Road.

Both drivers failed to stop at the T-bone intersection with Mountain Avenue and proceeded into the wooded area where each vehicle struck a tree on Aug. 1 at approximately 1:15 a.m., Deuer said.

Michael Michura's Ford sedan struck a tree approximately 50 feet from the side of the roadway, Deuer said. Michura and his 14-year-old son, the lone passenger in the vehicle, suffered minor injuries, Deuer said.

Joseph Michura's Audi, which was also carrying Michura's mother and 17-year-old brother, hit a tree immediately adjacent to Mountain Avenue and burst into flames, Deuer said.

When police and fire officials arrived at the scene, Joseph Michura and his mother were trapped in the burning vehicle, Deuer said.

Krueser and Cristofano—the borough's only officers on duty that night—were able to extricate the victims by prying open the vehicle's doors and cutting the seat belts while keeping the flames back with a fire extinguisher, Deuer said.

"That was a very horrific car accident," Deuer said. "With there being only two police officers on the road and there were five victims and two trapped in a burning car, they worked very efficiently to remove the people. If it wasn't for them, [the victims] may have burned and possibly both lost their lives. I'm very proud that they are part of our police department."

Deuer also commended the three firefighters for going "way above and beyond" their duty and for even providing medical attention to the victims.

"The firemen—Henry, who responded right to the scene, and Tim and Steve—went way above and beyond what a fireman needed to do by continuing to care for the patients. I believe Tim and Steve are both EMTs," Deuer said.

"Since we only had two police officers that night, the firefighters were definitely instrumental in making the situation a lot less worse than it could have been. If it weren't for those five people that night, the situation would have been horrific for this community."

The family of five, who were returning to their Brookside Terrace residence from a friend's home in Fairfield, have all been released from the hospital.

Joseph Michura suffered a compound femur fracture, while his mother sustained serious internal injuries and his 17-year-old brother was hospitalized for more than a week with a broken back, Deuer said.

Michael and Joseph Michura have each been charged with DUI, improper passing, speeding and reckless driving, Deuer said.

The investigation has been turned over to the Essex County Prosecutor's Office. Katherine Carter, a spokeswoman for the prosecutor's office, said Wednesday the investigation remains ongoing with additional charges possible.