NYPD and State Troopers Rescue Three from Burning Car on Grand Central Parkway

On the morning of April 21, 2026, New York State Police and NYPD officers were credited with rescuing three passengers trapped inside a burning vehicle following a crash on the Grand Central Parkway in Queens. The incident occurred just after 1 a.m. On March 22, when troopers patrolling the eastbound lanes near exit 11 spotted a car that had collided with a tree and was fully engulfed in flames.

According to official reports, the driver, identified as 20-year-old Mohammad Haque of Albany, New York, had already exited the vehicle by the time emergency responders arrived. However, three passengers remained trapped inside the burning car. Body camera footage released by both agencies shows troopers and officers working swiftly to smash windows and pull each occupant to safety despite intense flames and smoke.

In the video, first responders can be heard urging the passengers to exit the vehicle, with one trooper stating, “Give me your hand,” as he reached to assist someone. The passengers were successfully removed and transported to local hospitals for treatment. The driver, Haque, was also taken to the hospital for his injuries.

Following the rescue, Haque was arrested and later arraigned on April 16 on multiple charges, including three counts of assault, two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, and second-degree reckless endangerment. The New York State Police confirmed the arrest in an official press release dated April 21, 2026.

The coordinated response between the NYPD and New York State Police was highlighted by both agencies as a life-saving effort. NBC New York aired the bodycam footage, emphasizing the urgency and danger faced by responders as they worked to extract individuals from the burning wreckage.

No further details regarding the condition of the passengers or the exact cause of the crash have been released by authorities as of this report.