Off-Duty Officer Rescues Motorists From Parkway Crash

An off-duty NJ Transit officer pulled trapped drivers from wrecked vehicles after a three-vehicle crash on the Garden State Parkway.

Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Accidents

Off-Duty Officer Rescues Motorists From Parkway Crash

An off-duty NJ Transit police officer rescued two motorists from wrecked vehicles after a three-vehicle crash on the southbound Garden State Parkway near milepost 125.3 in Sayreville. Both drivers were taken to an area hospital and were last reported in stable condition.

Why it matters

The rescue highlights the role off-duty first responders can play at roadside emergencies, where leaking fuel created an immediate fire risk. It also underscores the danger posed by multi-vehicle crashes on high-speed highways across New Jersey.

Three vehicles were involved in the southbound Parkway crash, with the Ford driver ejected and sustaining non-life-threatening injuries while the Toyota driver suffered minor injuries. The cause of the crash remains unstated in available details.

The players

Jake Kallman

An NJ Transit police officer who was off duty when he rescued trapped motorists, and a former member of the Oakhurst Fire Department whose academy graduation was celebrated earlier this year.

NJ Transit

The New Jersey public transportation agency that employs Officer Jake Kallman as a police officer.

The details

A Ford pickup struck the center concrete barrier before hitting a Toyota pickup and a Honda passenger vehicle. Officer Jake Kallman broke a window with a borrowed hammer to reach a trapped driver, then found an unresponsive man pinned under another leaking vehicle and helped free him using straps and lifting airbags after a bystander called 911.

Tuesday, October 27, 2026, approximately 4:46 p.m.: Three-vehicle crash occurs on the southbound Garden State Parkway.
Earlier in 2026: Kallman graduates from the police academy, celebrated by the Oakhurst Fire Department.

Legal Context

The rescue takes place on a stretch of highway covered by New Jersey's Move Over law, which requires drivers to change lanes or slow down near roadside emergency work. Crashes like this one show how quickly a multi-vehicle collision can create conditions requiring civilian and off-duty responders to act before professional help arrives.

Drivers on the Garden State Parkway should expect continued emergency traffic response on busy weekday afternoons, and should slow down and move over when passing crash scenes. Motorists involved in similar collisions who are trapped or leaking fuel are advised to wait for trained responders when it is safe to do so.

The takeaway

Stopping to help at a crash scene can save lives, but drivers should call 911 first and keep a safe distance from leaking vehicles. Slowing down and moving over when passing emergency activity protects both responders and motorists.