Dramatic Rescue: Firefighters Use Jaws of Life to Free Driver in Washington Township Rollover
potos courtesy of Boyd Loving’s Facebook
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Late Saturday afternoon, the quiet intersection of Van Emburgh Avenue and Washington Avenue became the scene of a high-stakes rescue operation. A violent two-vehicle collision resulted in a Nissan Rogue flipping onto its side, leaving the driver trapped within the wreckage.
Precision Under Pressure: The Rescue Operation
Responding swiftly at approximately 4:00 PM on April 18, 2026, the Township of Washington Fire Department arrived to find the Nissan driver pinned. Utilizing generator-powered hydraulic cutting tools—commonly known as the “Jaws of Life”—firefighters meticulously pried back the vehicle’s roof to create an extraction path.
The rescue was complicated by a chilling discovery: a child car seat was visible inside the overturned SUV. Firefighters immediately launched a secondary search, fearing a child might have been ejected. Fortunately, the driver remained conscious and was able to confirm that no children were in the vehicle at the time of the crash.
Multi-Agency Response
The incident saw a seamless coordination between several local emergency units:
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Medical Support: Westwood EMS (operating an Emerson ambulance) and a paramedic team from Hackensack University Medical Center-North provided immediate on-scene care.
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Law Enforcement: Township of Washington PD led the investigation, while Ho-Ho-Kus and Hillsdale Police Departments assisted with heavy traffic diversions.
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The Second Vehicle: The occupants of the other vehicle involved, a Lexus sedan, were evaluated and reported no injuries.
The driver of the Nissan was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Both vehicles sustained heavy damage and were cleared from the intersection via flatbed tow trucks.
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“Quiet intersection” made me laugh. There is an accident at that intersection EVERY DAY, maybe this will move the needle to get a traffic light AND change the turning law in Woodcliff Lake – or we can wait for someone to die, then address the issue. Hope everyone is okay.