Traffic Stops On Rt. 36 To Avoid Hitting Kitten

ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS, NJ — A tiny kitten narrowly avoided being hit by cars Monday on Rt. 36 in Atlantic Highlands.

Atlantic Highlands Police officers responded to a 911 call Monday of a kitten on the highway. According to bystanders, the kitten crossed state Highway 36, jumping over the jersey barrier. Traffic on the extremely busy roadway came to a stop due to the small animal in the road.

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"At some point, a truck driver then exited his vehicle to try and grab the kitten," said Sergeant Travis Sodon, public information officer for the Atlantic Highlands Police Department.

"(But) the kitten then ran and jumped up into the engine compartment of the SUV that was stopped in traffic. The driver of the SUV was aware at this point that the kitten was up inside of their vehicle, and remained stopped," he said.

Police then arrived on the scene. The SUV was shifted into neutral and pushed into a nearby parking lot. Officers on scene as well as the truck driver tried several times to grab the kitten out from near the engine compartment, but were unsuccessful.

Patrolman Davi Cunha was eventually able to grab the kitten through the front driver side wheel well and safely bring it out.

The kitten was safely rescued and has since been turned over to the Monmouth County SPCA.

If you are missing a grey and white kitten, call the Monmouth County SPCA.