2nd Serious Incident Within a Month at Princeton Junction Train Station
January 10, 2022
WEST WINDSOR, NJ (MERCER)–On the night of Tuesday January 4th, 2022, NJ Transit Police Department officers responded to the Princeton Junction Dinky Line for a potentially intoxicated trespasser that was struck by a train. Through the darkness, K9 Officer Roman reportedly heard cries for help coming from a swamp. Multiple officers and emergency personnel began searching through the area.
West Windsor Fire & Emergency Services were dispatched to the Princeton Junction Train Station for a reported pedestrian struck. Upon arrival members of C-Platoon met with Officer Roman & his K9 counterpart of the New Jersey Transit Police Department to look for the reported struck pedestrian. Within minutes Officer Roman and C-Platoon members heard yelling from the swampy marsh near the track.
While utilizing the thermal imaging camera from Fire & Emergency Services, the cadre of responders embarked into the swampy area where unable to definitively locate the injured subject. The air temperature during this time was approximately 28 degrees Fahrenheit, with a 7-10mph wind coming from the south. Considering the possible condition of the patient and the weather conditions, a request for the NJSP Aviation unit was initiated by Sgt. Conrad (NJTPD).
Once overhead, New Jersey State Police Aviation located the patient within 150 yards of the responders, without regard for their safety Firefighter Douglas Frueh, NJTPD Officer Ruocco, and Officer Geoghegan made their way through deep mud and ice-cold water to the patient.
Upon making patient contact Firefighter Frueh rapidly assessed the patient for injuries and what would be needed to safely remove the patient. He radioed to Captain Mitchell & Firefighter Zuber who began the trek into the unfavorable condition along with Officer Roman with equipment for removal. While waiting for the additional support the immediate injuries were tended to, and the patient’s leg was immobilized.
The patient was placed into a Reeves carrying device for extraction from the area.
This operation was a joint effort and may not have had the same outcome if all the resources hadn’t been on the scene.
All personnel sacrificed their safety and worked as a team to rescue this individual. Please remember to stay off the tracks. Every trespasser incident is avoidable!
Original MidJersey.News story here:
At another incident on December 23, 2021, Ptl. Knox and Ptl. Fattibene, were at the Princeton Junction Train Station along with Captain Bain and Firefighter Zuber (West Windsor Fire & EMS) for an intoxicated female on the southbound platform. While attending to the woman, they were alerted to a male who had just fallen from the northbound platform onto the train tracks and was lying face down and motionless across the outside rail. Ptl. Knox, Ptl. Fattibene, and Firefighter Jack Zuber jumped down onto the tracks and ran to victim to render aid while Capt. Bain stayed with the intoxicated female. The victim was found semi-conscious with a laceration to his forehead. Knowing the dangers of being on the tracks for any length of time, especially during rush hour, Ptl. Knox, Ptl. Fattibene, and Firefighter Zuber picked the victim up from the tracks and collectively lifted him back onto the platform, which was no small feat given the victims large size, limp state, and the height of the platform from the tracks. They even picked up his belongings from the tracks before jumping back to the safety of the platform. Barely a minute later, an Amtrak train traveling at a high rate of speed going northbound on the inside rail went screaming by. The victim had serious trauma to his head among other injuries and he was attended to by WW Fire & EMS members; Captain Pope, Captain Bain, Firefighter Zuber, Firefighter Jamison (Fire Marshal’s Office), and Firefighter Table. EMS 45 also transported the victim to Capital Health Regional Medical Center for treatment.
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