NJ firefighter injured in crash

By Chris Harris
The Record

OLD TAPPAN, N.J. — A two-car accident at Dewolf and Old Tappan roads seriously injured the drivers of both cars.

One of the drivers, Alex Naylis, 22, of Northvale, is a member of the Old Tappan Volunteer Fire Department and was responding to a fire call around 12:30 p.m. that was ultimately a false alarm.

Police Chief Tom Shine said Naylis, a five-year veteran of the volunteer fire squad, was driving a 1998 Chevy Blazer west on Old Tappan Road. As he was approaching the intersection at Dewolf, the chief said, Iris Deleon, 57, of Middletown, N.Y., pulled out in front of Naylis.

The firefighter's Blazer collided head-on with Deleon's 2006 Toyota RAV4. Shine said that Naylis' car shot across Old Tappan Road because of the rain-slicked roadway, collided with the curb and flipped over.

"The accident is still under investigation, and we are talking to witnesses," Shine said, adding that the "officers handling this crash have issued motor vehicle summonses for [Deleon's] failure to yield at a stop sign and failure to yield to a volunteer emergency responder."

Deleon suffered a head injury and "couldn't answer basic questions about where she was, what day it was, where she lives," Shine said.

Fire Chief Nick Lepore confirmed that Naylis was involved in the accident, and was on his way to the hospital when contacted by phone. He said he knew very little about the car accident, but was rushing to be at Naylis' side.

"He's cut up pretty good," Shine said. "I don't think it's anything life-threatening. ... It's possible he may have a broken nose. He has a laceration on his left side, near his waistline."

When ambulance crews reached the scene, Naylis had already crawled out of his overturned truck, and was lying on the sidewalk.

"He was conscious and alert at the scene and he was talking," Shine said. "Most people around town know Alex and know that he is a dedicated member of the fire service here in Old Tappan. He's well-liked, so people in town are concerned for his welfare and well-being."

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