A passing motorist's warning to two Bergen County sheriff's officers wrapping up a nearby traffic stop turned into a life-or-death rescue Tuesday, after an 80-year-old driver was found slumped over and unresponsive at a red light in Hackensack. Within minutes, officers had forced open his locked car, confirmed he had no pulse, and started chest compressions on the pavement.
The incident unfolded around a vehicle stopped at the intersection of Essex Street and Polifly Road, a heavily traveled commercial corridor near Interstate 80 and Route 17, according to Insider NJ. Sheriff's Officers Vargas and Caceres, who were finishing up a separate stop nearby, responded after a passing motorist reported seeing the elderly man slumped over and motionless behind the wheel. When they reached the car, the man appeared unconscious and would not respond.
Officer Caceres confirmed the man had no pulse and was not breathing, according to the same account. With the vehicle locked and seconds counting, Officer Vargas forced entry through the passenger-side window using a window-punch tool. Sheriff's Officer Valderrama then pulled the man from the vehicle and immediately began CPR on the roadside.
A Rescue Built on Speed and Teamwork
Sheriff's Officers Dingertopadre and Morelli assisted at the scene. The Bergen County Sheriff's Office later commended all five officers — Vargas, Caceres, Valderrama, Dingertopadre and Morelli — for their roles in the rescue.
The man was transported to Hackensack University Medical Center and is expected to survive, per the report. The hospital is a state-designated Level I Adult Trauma Center and was named the state's top-ranked hospital overall by U.S. News & World Report for 2026–2027.
Sheriff Cureton Credits Training and Instinct
The rescue involved training, teamwork and quick action by the sheriff's officers.
Cureton has led the Bergen County Sheriff's Office since 2019, when he became the county's first African American sheriff after 25 years with the Englewood Police Department, according to Fairleigh Dickinson University. The office is the largest law enforcement agency in New Jersey's most populous county, overseeing more than 600 officers and civilian staff across 70 municipalities.
Why Every Second Mattered
The rescue reflects the importance of rapid chest compressions during a cardiac emergency. According to a 2023 study available through the National Institutes of Health's PubMed Central, the likelihood of survival to hospital admission was similar when CPR was initiated by first responders (27.1%) and EMS (26.8%). A study available through the National Institutes of Health's PubMed Central found that law-enforcement arrival before EMS, along with both CPR and AED application, was associated with significantly improved functional survival.
New Jersey's Good Samaritan Act is relevant to emergencies like this one.
Not the First Roadside Save for Bergen County Deputies
Tuesday's rescue highlights the department's role in roadside CPR. The rescue also highlights the importance of lifesaving training.
Regional cases may echo Tuesday's outcome as well. Rapid CPR and fast EMS dispatch can be important in cardiac emergencies.
