PARSIPPANY — A 22-year old man fell asleep behind the wheel of his parked car in the Powder Mill Plaza West Shopping Center was pulled to safety by Nicolas Limanov, an employee of Kafe Mozart, when his vehicle caught fire.
At 5:28 p.m. Monday, April 18, Parsippany police received a 9-1-1 call reporting a man sleeping inside a car that had its engine revving and was on fire in a parking lot.
The male was identified as Joseph D. Gerhard.
When Parsippany-Troy Hills Patrolman D. Ross arrived at 2900 Route 10 West, they found a witness had already assisted Gerhard out of the 2003 Saab.
Gerhard was taken to Saint Clare’s Hospital by Par-Troy Emergency Medical Services for treatment of possible smoke inhalation, police said.
Par-Troy Emergency Medical Services, Mount Tabor Fire Department, and Denville and Morris Plains police all responded to the scene.
Limanov said “I seen smoke from a distance and I helped another bystander pull out Mr. Gerhard. Skills that I have learned through Parsippany’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) gave me natural instinct to help the victim.”
Nicolas Limanov is being honored by Lakeland Hills YMCA on May 11 for “Citizen of the Year,” for volunteerism in the Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills.
