Trending Topics

Retired FDNY paramedic saves driver in fiery crash

An SUV crashed into a Manalapan home, causing a fire that destroyed part of the house

By Jessica Schladebeck
New York Daily News

MANALAPAN, N.J. — The driver of an SUV lost control of the vehicle and slammed into a New Jersey home early Tuesday morning, causing it to burst into flames, police said.

The crash occurred around 5:02 a.m. on Craig Road near Symmes Drive in Manalapan. Police said the driver just missed a utility pole before the vehicle plowed into a single-family home not far away.

Video from News 12 captured the aftermath of the incident and the subsequent fire, showing the burnt-out remains of the SUV and the giant hole it made in the Manalapan home.

Shawnee Fitch, who lives next door, said her husband, a retired FDNY paramedic, helped another Good Samaritan pull the unconscious driver from his vehicle. She told News 12 she was sleeping in a room not far from where the crash occurred. She was not injured, but another person sleeping in another room did receive treatment for smoke inhalation.

The lone resident of the home was also rescued while firefighters battled back the blaze, police said. A dog also escaped the residence.

The driver, meanwhile, was treated on the scene and rushed to an area hospital. Their current condition was not clear, nor was the cause of crash, which remains under investigation.

©2025 New York Daily News.
Visit nydailynews.com.
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Trending
Authorities credit the PennSTAR pilot for not crashing into any homes
Cass County’s EMS director sought $290,000 in pay raises over two years to retain and attract paramedics and EMTs, funded through billing, not taxpayer dollars
Residents in Kentucky and Missouri are assessing damage as more severe weather and potential tornadoes are forecast in the coming days
The federal EMSC Program continues its mission to enhance emergency services for children nationwide through training, support and recognition