Updated: Lawrence Firefighters Respond to Help at Ewing Crash

A rescue crew from Lawrence Township's Slackwood Volunteer Fire Co. was called into Ewing Township this evening, Sunday, Feb. 27, to assist at the scene of a nasty traffic accident that left a man badly injured.

The crash occurred about 7:45 p.m. on Spruce Street near Stoneham Road - one block from Parkside Avenue/Ewingville Road.

All three Ewing Township volunteer fire companies - Prospect Heights, Pennington Road and West Trenton - responded to the accident, along with Slackwood Fire Co., Ewing Township police and several emergency medical crews.

They arrived to find a Nissan Pathfinder, its front end badly mangled, sitting atop the sidewalk next to the entrance to the Deli Delite store.

A short distance away, a shattered utility pole rested on the sidewalk, with electrical wires still attached to it and hanging low across Spruce Street. Police immediately closed Spruce Street in that area to traffic and pedestrians because of the dangers posed by the downed utility pole and wires.

The driver of the wrecked Nissan was trapped and had to be extricated by firefighters. Once freed, the victim was rushed by ambulance to Capital Health Regional Medical Center in Trenton.

The accident remains under investigation by Ewing Township police.

Updated Information, Feb. 28:

• Ewing Township police have identified the driver of the Nissan as Ricky W. Ruffin, 47, of Ewing. Police said Ruffin was driving west on Spruce Street when he lost control. His vehicle "went up over the curb, striking a PSE&G pole, rolling the vehicle several times and striking a second PSE&G pole," according to a police news release. Ruffin, who police said was charged with driving under the influence and other offenses, was admitted to the hospital in critical but stable condition.