Route 80 Bridge Plunge: Car Plummets Into Hackensack River After Wild Multi-Vehicle Wreck

Route 80 Bridge Plunge: Car Submerged in Hackensack River Sparks Massive Late-Night Rescue

photos courtesy of the City of Hackensack Fire Department

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Hackensack NJ, A multi-vehicle crash on Route 80 took a dramatic turn on Monday night when a car crashed over the barrier and plummeted into the Hackensack River. The incident triggered a massive, high-stakes emergency response as rescue crews rushed to locate potential victims in the dark, rising tide.

The collision occurred at approximately 9:50 PM on Monday, May 18, 2026, along the eastbound lanes of Route 80, beginning right on the Hackensack River Bridge.

High-Stakes River Rescue Operations Underway

When the City of Hackensack Fire Department’s Deputy 2 and Second Platoon units arrived at the scene, they discovered multiple heavily damaged vehicles on the bridge and realized one car had completely cleared the overpass barrier, plunging into the waters below.

Because the vehicle landed closer to the Ridgefield Park side of the river, the Ridgefield Park Volunteer Fire Department was already on the scene. With the tide actively coming in, first responders from several towns quickly initiated a synchronized rescue operation:

• Water Deployment: Teams launched rescue boats into the river to reach the sinking vehicle.

• Thermal Tech: Drones equipped with thermal imaging cameras scanned the dark waters and riverbanks from above.

• Aerial Access: Firefighters extended an aerial ladder directly over the submerged car so crews could inspect the cabin for trapped occupants.

Missing Occupant Located Nearby

A sweep of the submerged car revealed that nobody was left inside, turning the rescue into an urgent search for the driver.

Fortunately, Hackensack Police officers tracked down one individual from the vehicle a short time later, locating them nearby. While the exact details of how they escaped the sinking vehicle have not been released, authorities confirmed that miraculously, all parties involved survived the terrifying plunge.

The submerged car was eventually hooked up and pulled from the river by Brookside Towing.

Eerie Deja Vu on the Hackensack River Bridge

Hackensack fire officials noted that this harrowing incident bears a striking resemblance to a dramatic 2015 crash on the very same bridge. In that incident, two women were cut off by another vehicle, losing control and flying off the overpass into the dense trees on the Hackensack side of the riverbank.

Just like that miracle crash over a decade ago, this week’s accident resulted in an incredibly fortunate outcome with zero fatalities.

Mutual Aid in Action: This complex recovery required a massive team effort from regional emergency departments, including Hackensack Fire Fighters Local 2081, Hackensack Fire Officers Local 3172, Hackensack Police, and the Ridgefield Park, Teaneck, and Oradell Fire Departments.

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• Tags: Hackensack NJ Bergen County News Route 80 Car Crash First Responders River Rescue Traffic Alert