Car Plunges Into Lake, Fatal Train Accident, Dogs Pulled From Fire: NJ Weekend

A cop rescued a driver after her car plunged into a lake, and a woman was struck and killed by an NJ Transit train.

Here are all the weekend headlines from the Garden State:

Cop Jumps Into Lake To Save Driver After Car Plunges Into Water

A Medford Lakes police officer dove into a lake early Saturday morning to rescue a woman after her vehicle crashed off a road and submerged in the water, authorities said.

Officer Jake Tapia was conducting a traffic enforcement detail on Stokes Road at approximately 5:04 a.m. March 8 when he heard a loud crash followed by a woman screaming for help.

Tapia responded to the scene and found a vehicle had left the roadway and plunged into Ballinger Lake near the intersection of Stokes Road and Lenape Trail, traveling roughly 30 feet into the water, according to a statement from the Medford Lakes Police Department.

After calling for additional emergency resources, Tapia entered the lake and swam to the submerged vehicle, pulling the driver — a 25-year-old woman from Lumberton — safely to shore.

Lumberton Township EMS treated the driver at the scene before transporting her to Virtua Mount Holly Hospital for evaluation. She was later released.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation. The vehicle was removed from the lake.

Woman Killed In Head-On Crash

A woman was killed and a man injured Saturday night in a head-on crash on Route 9 in Toms River, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office said. The woman was driving north on Route 9 in a Honda Accord when it was hit head-on by a Volkswagen Jetta just after 11 p.m. Saturday, the prosecutor's office said. The Volkswagen was headed south on Route 9 when it hit a guardrail on the passenger side of the car, which caused it to lose control and hit the Honda.

Read More Here: Woman Dies From Head-On Crash On Route 9; DUI Suspected, Prosecutor Says

Woman Struck & Killed By NJ Transit

A woman was fatally struck by an NJ Transit train in Bergen County on Sunday morning, according to media reports.

The woman, whose identity has not been released, was hit by a Port Jervis Line train near the Main Street crossing in Ramsey at approximately 10:49 a.m., NJ.com reported.

The train had departed Port Jervis at 8:57 a.m. and was bound for Hoboken. None of the roughly 150 passengers or crew members aboard were injured.

Cops Rescue Dogs From Burning Home

Police released body camera footage showing officers rescuing a dog from a burning home after a neighbor reported smoke coming from the residence, according to media reports.

Officers Darren Dewitt and Chris Wagner responded to 207 Laguna Drive on March 2, where they kicked in the door after being unable to reach the homeowners, News12 reported.

The officers searched the home, confirmed no occupants were inside and rescued the family's dog. A firefighter was injured battling the blaze but was expected to recover, officials said.

Several Homes Destroyed In Fire, People Left Homeless

A three-alarm fire tore through an apartment building in Dunellen Friday night, leaving 14 people homeless, authorities said.

Everyone was safely evacuated and there were no injuries, authorities said.

Read More Here: Fire Tears Through Apartments, Leaves 14 Homeless In Middlesex County, Officials Say

Have a correction or news tip? Email sarah.salvadore@patch.com