Twp. worker praised for saving senior in flood
BY CHRIS GAETANO
Staff Writer

"Ithink it's important we recognize the people who put their own life on the line to save others." - Mayor Frank Gambatese

SOUTH BRUNSWICK - A Monmouth Junction man was commended by the Township Council for saving a man from drowning during last weekend's nor'easter.

Brian Keith, a Department of Public Works employee, received a resolution praising his bravery during the council's Tuesday night meeting.

"I think it's important we recognize the people who put their own life on the line to save others," said Mayor Frank Gambatese.

"He's a hero," added Deputy Mayor Carol Barrett.

Keith, a heavy equipment operator, was helping to clear a clogged basin on Sunday. Afterward, he drove from Black Horse Lane to Deans Lane, which is near an underpass where stormwater had collected in a large pool. He said that there was a Comcast van stuck in what was estimated to be about 2 to 3 feet of water, which he and his colleagues hauled out.

Recognizing that the road might not be the safest for drivers, barricades were being set up on one side of the road, but while that was happening, Keith saw a car coming from the other side. At that point, the water had risen to about 4 feet, and before anyone could stop the car, it drove right into the water.

"It was more like a pond at that point," said Keith.

The car, driven by a 75-year-old man from Somerset, immediately began to fill up with water. Keith yelled for the man to open his windows, but the driver had only opened them halfway when the entire car went dead.

"I had to force the window all the way down, and I said, we gotta get you outta here, the water's flowing in pretty fast. The water was up to my mid-chest by then," Keith said.

The driver managed to get his head and shoulders out the window when Keith put the driver's arm around his neck and dragged him the rest of the way out of the car before scooping up his legs and walking him to safety.

When asked what was going through his head when he made the decision to save that man, Keith paused for a moment before speaking.

"I wasn't thinking at all. You just do it," said Keith.