Just after 1 a.m. on March 22, a car slammed into a tree and burst into flames on the eastbound Grand Central Parkway in Queens, turning a routine patrol into a life-or-death scramble for state troopers and NYPD officers.
Body-camera footage shows the front of the vehicle already engulfed as officers rush in, smashing windows and dragging passengers out while flames creep closer to the cabin. The driver, later identified as 20-year-old Mohammad Haque, managed to get out on his own. All four people in the car were taken to hospitals for treatment.
The NYPD shared the dramatic clip on X, writing that “Officers quickly pulled the victims trapped in the car to safety” and adding, “This collaborative effort saved lives.” The video shows troopers first trying to knock down the flames with a fire extinguisher before officers break through glass and haul three trapped passengers out of the burning wreck.
How the rescue unfolded
State troopers were patrolling the eastbound Grand Central Parkway just after 1 a.m. when they came upon the car crumpled against a tree and already fully engulfed in flames, according to CBS New York. Their report and the body-cam video show troopers grabbing a fire extinguisher and attacking the blaze at the hood while NYPD officers move in on the windows.
With the fire spreading, officers smash out the glass and reach three passengers who are still trapped inside, then pull them out one by one and carry them away from the burning vehicle. Haque, the driver, had already managed to exit the car.
Haque, 20, was arrested in connection with the crash and arraigned on April 16 on charges that include three counts of assault, two counts of endangering the welfare of a child and second-degree reckless endangerment, according to CBS New York. All four people from the car were transported to hospitals.
Charges and legal context
Second-degree reckless endangerment is defined in New York Penal Law §120.20 as conduct that “creates a substantial risk of serious physical injury” to another person, according to New York Public Law. Endangering the welfare of a child is set out in Penal Law §260.10, per New York Public Law.
The specific penalties can vary depending on how prosecutors and the courts assess the facts of the case, including whether a child was harmed or other aggravating circumstances are found. Haque’s April 16 arraignment marked the beginning of that review in court, according to local reporting.
Why the footage matters
The NYPD has increasingly released select body-worn camera recordings to the public in an effort to showcase notable responses and promote transparency, even as advocates continue to push for broader and faster access to footage. The department’s NYPD video center hosts similar releases.
The Grand Central Parkway rescue video now joins a growing collection of clips that show officers responding to crashes, fires and other emergencies, offering a close-up look at a chaotic few minutes that, according to the department, likely kept a bad night from becoming something far worse.
