It was after midnight on March 5. A 2007 Freightliner tanker truck drove west on Route 22 in Bridgewater, New Jersey. Suddenly, a passenger car crashed into the back of the tanker, igniting a huge fire. The tanker pulled over, and its driver exited his rig. The passenger in the engulfed Hyundai Elantra also got out of the car. The Elantra’s driver, however, didn’t move.

As the fire spread across the front of the sedan, Noah Allat entered the scene. The local police officer was already in the area.

The officer quickly realized the driver was unconscious and trapped in his seat.

Police body cam footage shows Allat darting to the left front door. He pulls the handle open and reaches in to unbuckle the driver, who slumps forward. Flames shoot through the windshield.

Officer Allat immediately pulls the driver out of the Elantra, dragging him to safety.

A 2007 Freightliner tanker truck has a 3,500-gallon capacity. As the above incident proved, rear-ending a tanker truck on the freeway in a compact sedan is extremely dangerous. The size difference alone means a passenger car could slide under the truck, crushing the front and possibly trapping occupants inside. 

If the tanker carries hazardous materials, a crash could cause a fire like this one did. Explosions and toxic spills are also a risk. Even if the tank holds a non-flammable liquid, the impact might lead to a dangerous leak or sudden swerving.

Ultimately, several teams of volunteer firefighters and medical staff arrived to help. The Elantra driver and passenger suffered injuries, but ABC 6 shared that they were not life-threatening.