Piscataway Firefighters to be Honored for Heroic Efforts to Save Occupants from Flooded Vehicles during December Storm

PISCATAWAY, NJ – A specialized group of rescuers from the New Market Fire Department will be honored next month for their heroic lifesaving efforts after saving the occupants of numerous vehicles from flooded streets last winter.

On December 18, 2023, a morning storm dumped almost three inches of rain on Piscataway, quickly flooding many township roads near low-lying areas. Road closures were announced, but for some drivers, the announcements were too late as they rounded bends, driving right into rising water as streams overflowed banks, stalling their engines.

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READ ALSO: Heavy Rain Leaves Piscataway Roads Flooded

All of Piscataway’s fire and rescue agencies were ready for action that day, including the New Market Fire Department’s Special Operations Swift Water Team which conducted 15 high water rescues and assisted other teams well into the night, constantly putting crews into harm’s way.

One of the riskiest rescues came when several team members deployed boats to rescue the occupants of a pickup truck and a sedan that became trapped in rising storm water under the train trestle on Possumtown Road, an area prone to flooding during heavy storms.

“Upon arrival, they discovered a mother (the driver), and a child, and an infant who were still secured in the back seat,” said Pedro Nieves, New Market’s Deputy Chief of the sinking sedan.

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He said he could see from a distance that the water was up to the mother’s neck as she sat behind the wheel.

“They managed to keep their faces above water while they removed their restraints and removed them from the vehicle,” he said of the responding team. “They transferred them to our boat and no less than ten seconds later the vehicle was completely underwater.”

Nieves added the driver of the pickup truck was also rescued by boat, and all were taken to shore to be evaluated by EMTs.

To recognize them for their service that day, Nieves recommended the Swift Water Team be honored with a Unit Citation from the New Jersey State Fire Chiefs Association.

The Unit Citation is awarded to a group of firefighters who act as a team in effecting a rescue involving human life, according to the association’s website.

For the high water rescues on Possumtown Road, Captain Greg Santonastaso, Lt. Tony Fritz, and Lt. Chris Moskowitz will be honored with the Medal of Valor for “performance above and beyond the call of duty at extreme personal risk and having been instrumental in rescuing and saving another person’s life.”

A special awards program will be held on September 12, at 1pm at the Wildwood Boardwalk Convention Center where all team members will be honored.

Medal of Valor Recipients:

• Captain Greg Santonastaso

• Lieutenant Tony Fritz

• Lieutenant Chris Moskowitz

Unit Citation Recipients:

Deputy Chief Pedro Nieves

• Assistant Chief Buddy Previtera

• Captain Greg Santonastaso

• Captain Pete Nagy Jr

• Lieutenant Chris Moskowitz

• Lieutenant Ruben Pires

• Safety Officer Rich Jones

• Safety Officer Joshua Isaacs

• FF Mike Campbell

• FF Mike Chevalier

• FF David Del Toro

• FF Tony Fritz

• FF Walter Siegrist III

• FF Jim Mosier Sr

• FF Eric Yulo

• FF Ray Rosenberg

• FF Ryan Rucki

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