Two New Jersey motorists had to be snatched from the roofs of their cars after spending hours trapped in place by the surging floodwaters of Tropical Storm Ida early this past Wednesday morning in Mercer County.
According to police and rescue authorities, one of the drivers was lifted by the New Jersey State Police via helicopter after spending four hours on top of his car. Another man was later hauled from his own vehicle’s roof by the Trenton Fire Department with a ladder truck, according to an update from the Princeton Department of Emergency and Safety Services.
The calls for the eventual helicopter search and rescue attempt came in shortly before midnight, Wednesday. Firefighters then arrived at the scene along Rosedale Road close to the Johnson Park School where they tried to save the driver amidst swiftly moving floodwaters.
There were some difficulties with initial ground-based attempts to get the man to safety because it wasn’t until 4:08 am that the victim was safely hoisted away by a helicopter and flown to Trenton Mercer Airport for a medical evaluation. Support staff and resources from the Lawrenceville Fire Co, the Princeton Junction Fire Co, Trenton Fire Department, the Hamilton Fire Department, and the Pennsauken Fire Department High Water Truck were all on hand during the multi-hour attempt.
The 58-year-old individual from Princeton had climbed onto the roof of his vehicle as the water level rapidly rose around him. The unsafe, murky nature of the water and the dangers surrounding currents rendered all rescue attempts before the helicopter unsuccessful.
As for the second motorist, he was stranded along Route 26 close to Quaker Road, according to authorities. The rising waters also forced this driver to climb onto the roof of his car after the entire roadway had become flooded along with the interior of the vehicle.
The 30-year-old Montgomery man was first reached by Trenton Fire Department workers with a ladder truck, which then drove right onto the flooded roadway and pulled out its 100-foot ladder which was extended to reach the top of the driver’s car. He was able to reach safety by moving across it.
Both storm victims were unhurt following their harrowing hours in the flood. The same can’t be said for 46 and possibly more victims of Ida that have been killed by the storm as it raged over the Northeast.
During major natural disaster events, and for many less news-worthy smaller rescue situations, helicopter search and rescue services are rapidly called forth to deliver professional, highly trained airlifts from extremely dicey situations. These often come from both government air rescue services and private helicopter charter companies such as Fair Lifts, working under government contract.
Photo Credit: nj.com