Police officer rescues woman from burning car

[Buttercup]

Police officer rescues woman from burning car

BY TOM HAYDON
Star-Ledger Staff

Flames were shooting out from under the hood of the Ford Explorer when police Officer Thomas Newbon reached the crash scene Tuesday night on Route 1 in Plainsboro.

As the fire inched toward the interior of the SUV, Newbon saw the unconscious driver inside propped- up by the deployed airbag. Newbon repeatedly struck the partially open window with his police baton until it shattered.

With the help of off-duty state corrections officer Michael Burkhart, who had stopped at the acci dent scene, Newbon lifted the driver, Roxana Mendez, 21, of Tren ton, from the vehicle and pulled her to safety.

"I have no problem admitting I was scared," Newbon said yesterday as he recounted the rescue.

Mendez was taken Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, where she was listed in fair condition yesterday.

Police said Mendez was driving north on Route 1 at 11:57 p.m. Tuesday, when her 1996 Ford Explorer struck the rear of a 2007 Volvo tractor-trailer being driven by Douglas Kauffman, of Millerstown, Pa. Kauffman was not in jured.

The crashed sparked a fire and sent the Explorer careening off highway onto the grass in front of the Food Machinery Corp. near Plainsboro Road.

Newbon arrived minutes later and several people had already gathered by the side of the road, including Burkhart, who was using his flashlight to flag down the officer and told him the driver was still in the vehicle, Newbon said.

After Newbon and Burkhart pulled the woman from the car, Newbon said he went back to the Explorer to check for a child restraint seat and other passengers, but found the vehicle empty.

"It wasn't a long time but it felt like a long time," said Newbon, who joined the Plainsboro police force two years ago, after working for the Chesterfield Police Department in Burlington County for four years.

Newbon "is going to be recognized at the police awards," said Plainsboro police Lt. Thomas DeSi mone said. "I was very impressed."

Mendez faces charges of driving while intoxicated and reckless driving, according to police. Attempts to reach Burkhart were unsuccessful.

[Ianl6]

This is a typical reason why nobody has the right to slag any officer off ever as this officer (Off duty at the time) risked his own life to save this person .It didnt matter to him if they were drunk sober hurt unhurt he saw a trapped person and he saved a life. He deserves a medal for risking his life even though the driver was drunk
a brave man.

[BEB]

Well done Officers Newbon and Burkhart!

[Roses]

Kudos, to both of them!