MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT

23 Cheverly Road,
Lawrence Township

Volunteers from Lawrence Road Fire Co. responded to an accident in which a car veered off the road and struck the front of a house on Cheverly Road during the afternoon of Sunday, January 18, 2004.

The accident occurred about 1:45 p.m. when a 23-year-old man from Jamaica, N.Y., lost control of the Honda Accord he was driving on Cheverly Road, near the corner with Eggerts Crossing Road. The Honda struck a parked car, jumped the curb, then slammed into the front porch of the vacant home at 23 Cheverly Road, police said.

Lawrence Control toned out Station 22 to the accident at 1:51 p.m. Because the driver was not hurt, Lawrence Control did not dispatch Lawrence First Aid Squad.

Rescue 22 responded at 1:53 p.m. with Assistant Chief Gary Wasko in command and Ff. Martin Burch driving. The crew was made up of Capt. Chris Pangaldi, Lt. Shaun Dlabik and Ff. Chris Longo.

Engine 22 responded at 1:54 p.m., with Capt. Patrick Kent in command, Ff. Ryan Quill driving and a crew that included Lt. Michael Ratcliffe, Ff. Joseph Dlabik Jr., and Ff. Charles Commini.

Rescue 22 arrived on location at 1:55 p.m., followed by Engine 22 at 1:58 p.m.

Rescue 22’s crew discovered that Elkady’s Honda had damaged the front porch of the vacant home and also destroyed a post that had supported the porch’s roof.

Wasko immediately requested that a building inspector respond to the scene. After no other hazards were found, Wasko reduced the assignment to Rescue 22. Engine 22 cleared the scene and was in quarters by 2:06 p.m.

Rescue 22’s crew then stood by and awaited the building inspector, who arrived on scene at 2:40 p.m. and conducted a survey of the damage. At the request of the inspector, Rescue 22’s crew placed a 7-foot-long piece of cribbing on the front porch to replace the destroyed post and support the roof.

At that point, the car was then moved away from the front porch by a tow truck from Eddie’s Auto Body.

After the Honda was removed, Rescue 22 went available and the scene was turned over to a township police officer to await the arrival of the property owner. Rescue 22 was back in quarters by 3:14 p.m.