West Orange Cops Earn Award For Response To ‘Horrific’ Crash

WEST ORANGE, NJ — A pair of West Orange’s “most dedicated police officers” recently earned an award for their response to a horrific accident, officials said.

The West Orange Police Department released the following congratulations to officer Karen Mango and detective Jose Alvarez, who earned a Valor Award from the 200 Club of Essex County.

“The 200 Club of Essex County presented their 2020 Valor Awards at West Orange Fire Headquarters on April 22. Members of the WOPD and West Orange Fire Department were remembered for their heroic actions on July 30, 2019. On that date a dump truck crashed into an accident scene that was populated with WO police, fire, citizens and two state troopers standing outside their patrol cars. The dump truck directly smashed into an ambulance and fire truck already on the scene, causing direct injuries to the troopers as well as WO Fire Captain Will Holder and Firefighter Matt Keenan.”

West Orange police continued:

“This was a horrific accident scene and each and every first responder on scene went above and beyond the call of duty that morning. A simple car accident turned into a near death/ career threatening incident in a matter of seconds.”

Honored at the ceremony were: WO Firefighter Daniel Keenan, Fire Captain Heidi Vanderhoof, Firefighter Matthew Kehoe, Fire Captain Will Holder (injured at the accident), Police Officer Karen Roach-Mango and Detective Jose Alvarez.

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