Emergency Responders Rescue Woman Who Fell Off Rocks at Ross Dock

Fort Lee emergency responders rescued a woman Wednesday afternoon after she fell off the rocks near the Hudson River at the Ross Dock picnic area, and shortly thereafter Fort Lee firefighters performed a “door pop,” rescuing another woman trapped in the passenger seat of a car after a two-vehicle accident at Route 5 and Palisade Avenue in Fort Lee, authorities said.

Both women were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

“A lady was taking pictures down there [on a path running along the water near the playground at the Ross Dock Picnic area] and was either in a tree or leaning against a tree, fell off and landed on the rocks by the water, luckily at low tide,” said now Fort Lee Fire Chief Keith Sabatino. “Luckily she didn’t go in the water; she was lying down there for about 20 minutes.”

Sabatino said the Fort Lee Fire Department was called to the scene for a possible rescue only to find the victim already back-boarded, collared and being put into an ambulance by members of the Fort Lee Ambulance Corps.

“As a precaution they transported her to the hospital,” Sabatino said. “The fire department didn’t really get involved. They called for us, but luckily, where she fell, there was a path and they got her out easily.”

Initial reports said the woman fell about 10 feet, but Sabatino couldn’t confirm that.

“It happened quick; they got in and out quick,” he said. “She was banged up. I don’t believe they were life-threatening injuries.”

Shortly after that incident, which occurred just after 2 p.m., Fort Lee firefighters were called to Route 5 and Palisade Avenue after a two-car accident left a woman trapped in her car.

“One lady was stuck inside the passenger side door, so we popped the door open and got her out that way,” Sabatino said. “There were no life-threatening injuries there, but she was also banged up, and she was taken to the hospital.”

Editor’s Note: Sabatino officially took over as Fort Lee Fire Chief on Jan. 1, when Mark Sulcov became Deputy Fire Chief and former department Chief William Chiappane became Battalion Chief of the . All three will be sworn in at a ceremony on Jan. 19 at .