Clark Firefighters Rescue Trapped Passenger In Parkway Crash

CLARK, NJ — Clark firefighters rescued a trapped passenger following a serious crash on the Garden State Parkway on Monday night.

At around 4:10 p.m., a Ford Explorer was driving in the right lane of the Garden State Parkway approaching the ramp for Exit 135 in Clark when it hit the guardrail, a sign, and then ran off the highway to the left of the ramp, said New Jersey State Police Sgt. Philip Curry.

The driver was already outside of the SUV and on the ground when Clark firefighters arrived, said Clark Fire Chief Frank J. Cerasa.

Firefighters had to use the Jaws of Life to pry open the SUV. Two fire engines and 10 firefighters stabilized the SUV and removed a door in order to save the trapped passenger, said Cerasa.

Both people had to be airlifted to Newark Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, said Curry.

A landing zone for the New Jersey State Police helicopter was set up at Mother Seton High parking lot, said Cerasa.

The crash was cleared at about 5:05 p.m.

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