Video obtained by Telemundo 47’s sister network NBC10 shows the moment a truck crashed into several NJ State Police cars on the highway last month, nearly hitting a running officer.
The close encounter took place on I-80 in Allamuchy Township, New Jersey on February 23.
New Jersey State Police and first responders were working at the scene of a previous accident when a heavy tow truck carrying a box truck drove into closed freeway lanes.
Dashcam video shows New Jersey State Trooper Stephen Lentini shining his flashlight to get the attention of the truck driver. But the vehicle continued to move directly towards him.
“It was only a matter of seconds when I realized it wasn’t going to stop,” Officer Lentini said.
Police officer Lentini fled just as the truck slammed into his vehicle, along with two other state police cars and an ambulance.
“You have firefighters running for their lives,” said New Jersey State Trooper Marcus Scheffer. “You have other people running.”
Believing Officer Lentini had been hit, New Jersey State Trooper Devry Mariano sprang into action. “It came to me, ‘Oh no. My troop mate, he’s over there, I have to get to him. Because in my head it was already impacted…or worse,” Mariano said.
Luckily Cavalier Lentini was unharmed and no serious injuries were reported.
“Everyone, by the grace of God, was careful,” Lentini said. “We are all truly blessed that no one was hurt or killed that night.”
The officer is fine, but she and her companions had a terrible fright.
All three State Police vehicles were declared a total loss while the ambulance was damaged. “It looked more or less like a war zone,” Lentini said.
Authorities said the crash highlighted the importance of New Jersey’s ‘Move One Lane’ law, which requires drivers to slow down and move to stay clear of first responders and other crews workers working on roadsides.
In 2010, New Jersey State Trooper Mark Castellano was hit and killed by a driver on I-95, while New Jersey State Trooper Sean Cullen died after being hit by a car while responding to a vehicle on fire on I-295 in 2016.
In both accidents, the drivers did not respect the “Move Over” law.
“If a seemingly simple law is not followed, it can result in a tragedy that we relive sometimes every day,” said New Jersey State Police Superintendent Col. Patrick Callahan.
State police are continuing to investigate last month’s accident. The driver of the tow truck received a ticket for reckless driving.