State Police officer pulls woman out of burning car on AC Expressway

EGG HARBOR TOWNSHP — A State Police officer on his way to work rescued a couple from their car on the Atlantic City Expressway after it hit a concrete barrier and catch fire.

Sgt. First Class James Mitchell, who works with the Casino Operations Unit, saw a car hit the barrier in the westbound lanes near the Garden State Parkway around 7:45 a.m., according to State Police. He changed direction and blocked traffic in the left lane, police said.

With the car fully engulfed in flames, Mitchell went to the car and pulled the driver out, police said. Mitchell went back to get the man's wife out of the car, but her feet were stuck under the dashboard, police said. He grabbed her from underneath and pulled the woman out the window, police said.

The woman was hospitalized at AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center's Mainland Campus in stable condition.

Police did not disclose the couple's identity. The incident remains under investigation.

Last Thursday, State Police Sgt. First Class Jeff Flynn on his way to work at State Police headquarters helped get a wayward cow off Route 29 in Stockton.

Contact reporter Dan Alexander at Dan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com.