Jeff Goldman
nj.com
Princeton police released video this week showing officers and other first responders rescuing motorists who drove around barriers into swiftly-moving floodwaters during last week’s severe storm from the remnants of Hurricane Ida.
While police officers, firefighters, members of the rescue squad and the State Police’s aviation unit worked to rescue one driver, a second motorist also ignored signs on Route 206 saying the road was closed and navigated his car around the barriers, officials said.
The Trenton Fire Department rescued that driver from the roof of his car minutes later.
Those were just part of several rescues made in Princeton Wednesday night and early Thursday.
“We are sharing this as a reminder to not drive around barricades,” Princeton police said. “They are there for your safety and we do not have the resources to have our officers physically at each road closure to enforce the ‘road closed’ sign.”
In all, Princeton police responded to 393 calls between 10 p.m. Wednesday and 8 a.m. Thursday. The calls were for stranded or trapped motorists, abandoned vehicles with possible trapped occupants, flooded roads and residents trapped in flooded homes on top of regular service calls, officials said.
Of the 27 people killed in New Jersey during last week’s flooding, one death took place in Mercer County. One of the three tornadoes to hit New Jersey during the storm was in Princeton.
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