STATE POLICE TEAM PULLS MAN FROM BURNING CAR ON I-70

(NEW MARKET, MD) – Some say ‘police are never there when you need them,’ but that was not the case last night when a state trooper and a cadet pulled a man from a burning car along I-70 in eastern Frederick County.

Shortly before 8:00 p.m. yesterday, Trooper First Class Joseph Romanchak of the Frederick Barrack was patrolling on eastbound I-70 near New Market. Riding with him was State Police Cadet Jeremy Blackburn, assigned to the West Friendship scale house of the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division.

TFC Romanchak and Cadet Blackburn spotted a car on the slow shoulder of westbound I-70 that appeared to be on fire. Immediately turning around and responding, the two found a 1997 Nissan Maxima stopped against the guardrail. Smoke and flames were billowing from the engine compartment of the car.

TFC Romanchak and Cadet Blackburn found the driver and sole occupant, a 46-year-old man from Carroll County, still inside the car. He appeared disoriented and it was not immediately known if he had been in a collision or suffered some type of medical emergency. The trooper and cadet removed the man from the burning vehicle and took him to a safe area. TFC Romanchak returned to the car and used his fire extinguisher to put out the flames.

Fire department units from Carroll County responded to the scene. The man was taken to Frederick Memorial Hospital.

TFC Romanchak and Cadet Blackburn were also taken to Frederick Memorial Hospital as a precaution, due to smoke inhalation. Both were treated and released.

The cause of the incident remains under investigation.