Route 208 Chaos: Rollover Crash Hospitalizes TEN Firefighters and Multiple Victims After Exposure to Unknown Fumes!
photos courtesy of Boyd Loving’s Facebook page
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
FAIR LAWN, NJ | October 17, 2025 – A devastating two-vehicle rollover crash on Route 208 northbound in Fair Lawn late Thursday night, October 16th, resulted in a chaotic scene that sent multiple civilians and an astonishing ten firefighters to area hospitals. The emergency responders were overcome by fumes emanating from an unknown chemical substance that was being transported in one of the overturned vehicles.
The incident triggered a massive multi-agency response and shut down the busy highway as authorities dealt with the severe accident, chemical exposure, and a series of subsequent chain-reaction collisions.
Chemical Exposure Sends Rescuers to the Hospital
The initial crash involved two vehicles, including a Dodge minivan that rolled over, trapping at least one victim inside. Firefighters from the Fair Lawn, Glen Rock, and Hawthorne fire departments quickly responded, utilizing hydraulic rescue tools (the “Jaws of Life”) to extricate the trapped individual.
However, during the rescue operation, ten of the responding firefighters were exposed to and overcome by fumes from an unidentified chemical or chemicals being carried within the overturned vehicle. All ten were immediately transported to area hospitals for treatment.
Multiple victims from the wrecked vehicles were also taken to Hackensack University Medical Center’s main campus for treatment of their injuries.
Multi-Car Pileups and Impairment Investigation
The severity of the initial crash led to numerous chain-reaction collisions on Route 208 northbound, scattering debris and damaged vehicles across the lanes, necessitating the deployment of multiple tow trucks to clear the highway.
Adding to the complexity of the scene, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Fatal Accident Investigation Unit (FAIU) was called to the crash site by the Fair Lawn Police Department. This was due to the serious nature of one victim’s bodily injuries and evidence suggesting that one of the drivers involved may have been impaired.
The investigation into the cause of the initial crash and the source of the chemical fumes is ongoing. The Fair Lawn Police Department was assisted at the scene by the Glen Rock Police Department and the Glen Rock Volunteer Fire Department.
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Pool cleaning chemicals. Stinky.