N.J. Responder Injured in Crash During `Santa Detail`

MAHWAH, N.J. -- One of Santa's helpers was injured Saturday afternoon when a car crashed head-on into the ambulance he was driving.

Glenn Vitrone, 51, was traveling in a detail escorting a Santa handing out candy and talking to children in town when his ambulance was struck by an Dodge Durango, police said.

Both Vitrone, a member of the volunteer Mahwah Ambulance Corps, and the Durango's driver, Harry Williams, 82, were taken to Hackensack University Medical Center by helicopter for treatment.

Both of them were in stable condition, police said. The extent of their injuries were not known.

The ambulance, which contained only Vitrone, was traveling south on Wyckoff Avenue when it was struck by the Durango traveling north, according to police Lt. Bruce Kuipers. A third car was also involved and incurred minor damage, police said.

Both the ambulance and the Durango were totaled in the crash, Kuipers said. The fronts of both were crunched. The windows of the ambulance, which is part of the volunteer squad in the area, were shattered. Vitrone was pinned and had to be extracted from the ambulance, fire officials said.

Santa was up the street with a fire truck when the accident occurred, police said.

Police are still investigating the crash.

Republished with permission of NorthJersey.com