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Three New Jersey state troopers rescued a truck driver, who fell into a creek, after his tractor-trailer caught fire and crashed through a guardrail along the New Jersey Turnpike. Authorities responded to the call around 5:30 a.m. Tuesday.
Trooper Jeff Flynn, a State Police spokesman told reporters when the officers arrived to the scene they found the burning cab hanging over the bridge. They spotted Lawrence Scherf, 66, of Vails Gate, N.Y., conscious and treading water in the creek.
"We knew it was going to be a rescue situation," said Trooper Jason Serrano, 31, of Paterson.
The three troopers held each other up as they pulled the truck driver out of Overpeck Creek.
Authorities didn't have any information yet on how the driver ended up in the water, but Trooper Hussein believes he jumped out.
"That was his only chance," recalled Trooper Mohamed Hussein, 31, of Union. "If he would have stayed inside the cab he would have burned to death."
[video=youtube_share;S1BxCw9rPek]http://youtu.be/S1BxCw9rPek[/video]
Scherf was airlifted to Hackensack University Medical Center. He was then transferred to St. Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston. He is suffering from burns and is in critical condition, according to Flynn.
The cause of the crash of the truck is under investigation. No charges or summonses have been issued at this time, as the investigation is continuing, Flynn said.
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