Port Monmouth Man Rescued From Flooded Road in Matawan Wednesday
The 77-year old motorist drove around a "Road Flooded" sign, police say, and got trapped on the oft-flooded Aberdeen Road.
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A Port Monmouth man found himself up Matawan Creek without a paddle Wednesday morning when his car stalled out in flood water on Aberdeen Road, (also known as High Street) which off Main Street near the railroad crossing.
According to Matawan Police Lt. Ben Smith, the 77-year-old driver navigated around the "Road Flooded" signs warning motorists of the danger ahead.
The stretch of roadway floods often, and the way it dips next to the creek can make the depth of the water on the road deceiving.
Members of the Matawan Borough Fire Department who are water-rescue certified came to the driver's aid. In waterproof suits, firefighters Richard Michitsch and Brian Kopf guided Marine-29-1, a zodiac boat, out to the Mercury and helped the man out of his car.
According to Assistant Fire Chief Zee Varsanyi, when the firefighters reached the man's car the water was about six to eight inches high in the interior.
They guided him safely back to shore where he was issued a driving summons by Sgt. Patrick Walker. His name was not released.
No injuries were reported during the incident.
Marine-29-1, Midway Hose Company, the Matawan Fire Police and the Matawan Police Department responded to the scene.
barbara dalessio
3:58 pm on Wednesday, February 27, 2013
There is a reason why signs are put up.
christine
10:52 am on Thursday, February 28, 2013
It's a shame they didn't have a "Road Flodded" sign up to warn people...Oh wait....... DUH!!!!!
NJarhead
11:09 am on Thursday, February 28, 2013
We need to update it with a sign that says "Deep Water Here" with an arrow.
LGA
10:14 pm on Thursday, February 28, 2013
77 years old? In a Mercury? Wow you don't see that everyday. Maybe he didn't see the sign. They only had black and white signs back when he got his license. The bright orange may have frightened him. Seriously, I think everyone over the age of 40 should have to retake a drivers test and vision test every 5 years. I'm 49 and I don't see as well as i used to an I know my reaction times are slowing. I have been an emergency vehicle driver since I was 18 and still work in the EMS field. I'm more into training and management now. he last i drove in an emergency situation was during 9/11. More and more I see accident reports involving seniors. Even in parking lots there have been fatalities A few years ago, a elderly couple died after their car FLIPPED in Hamilton Hospital's parking lot. Also, when Centrastate opened their new wellness wing, a senior drove his car through the front wall. Or the guy in Matawan that drove through the Quckcheck. I have hundreds of these stories. My point is, everyone looses something as we age. Some loose it faster then others, but its part of getting old. Everyone should be required to retake a drivers test and eye exam after 40. People will say "well younger people get into accidents too" and that true, but the cause of those accidents are different then seniors. Younger drivers are usually driving too fast or are distracted, not because they mistook the gas pedal for the brake.