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Trolley Driver Searches for ‘Guardian Angel’

Fires | Mon, 02/23/2009 - 1:17 pm | Read 2375 | Commented 12 | Emailed 3
Tags: garden state parkway, Great American Trolley, West Wildwood

By Lauren Suit

Trolley fire photo by Harry B. Scheeler. Left, trolley driver Charles Frederick

WEST WILDWOOD — Charles Frederick said he owes his life to the man who pulled him out of a burning trolley the evening of Jan. 29.

However Frederick has been waiting nearly a month to express his gratitude, because this particular “guardian angel” is proving difficult to track down.

“I owe him everything and I just want to find him and thank him,” Frederick told the Herald.

Frederick, a 43-year-old resident of West Wildwood had been a driver for the Great American Trolley Company for approximately three months before the ill fated trip on Jan. 29.

Frederick was driving with no passengers southbound on the Garden State Parkway after returning from a convention in Atlantic City. He noticed at about mile marker 22 another car came up quickly behind him and the driver was flashing his headlights. The driver then sped up to get even with Frederick’s driver-side window.

“He was yelling at me to pull over,” Frederick said. “And I did what he said as quickly as I could.”

Frederick said that no sooner than he put the trolley in park and turned off the ignition, flames shot up around his driver’s seat.

“Fire was coming up all around me and through the dash shooting right at me. I used the emergency seatbelt cutters to get out of the seat and by then black smoke had filled the entire bus,” he said.

“I went to get out and the driver’s door wouldn’t open,” Frederick said, his voice wavering with emotion. “Whoever this guy was, he punched the door open and pulled me out.”

Frederick said his pant legs caught fire in the intense blaze, but luckily his legs were not burned.

Frederick said that the man then called 911 and waited with him until rescue arrived.

Seaville Fire Department, Upper Township Rescue Squad, Medic 8 and State Police responded to the scene. Traffic was at a standstill for 45 minutes as firefighters put out the blaze.

Frederick suffered smoke inhalation and was transported to Cape Regional Medical Center for treatment by Upper Township Rescue Squad and Medic 8. The last time he saw his rescuer was right before he was taken to the hospital in an ambulance.

Now, Frederick said he’s back to work as a driver, but the events of that evening are never far from his mind. Despite the trauma of that evening, he knows there are “good people out there.”

Frederick doesn’t remember much about the man that saved his life, but considers whoever it was “a guardian angel” and hopes he’ll come forward to accept his thanks.
Frederick can be contacted at 609-972-3291.

Print | Email Updated 1 year 1 week ago

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Comments (12)

We welcome your thoughts, stories and information related to this article.

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Tue, 03/03/2009 - 9:57am - Posted by: Anonymous

Sunday 6:54

why do you think he got a job there.............he fits right in with the rest of that company!

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Sun, 03/01/2009 - 11:23am - Posted by: Anonymous

What an assinine comment the poster at 6:54 made! I hope you find yourself in a similar position someday.

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Sun, 03/01/2009 - 6:54am - Posted by: Anonymous

hey charles when i read this article i really felt bad for you and when i saw ur picture you looked like a really clean handsome looking guy..WOW!! was i wrong!! i met you and ur nothing but an over dramatic fat dirty slob that needs to move on with ur pathetic life..i wish i never took the time outta my life to meet you!!!

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Thu, 02/26/2009 - 5:05pm - Posted by: Anonymous

Charles you need to find a better job. That place is a no where job! They use you until they are done with you and then find a way to get rid of you. They pick and choose drivers and if they don't like you they give you the crap runs. The drivers who have been there along time think they own the company and treat other drivers like crap! They have foul mouths, talk on their cellphones all the time while driving and a few of them should be tested constantly for D&A abuse. They put employees in jeopardy running those trolleys as well as the riders on them and DO NOT CARE A BIT. That guy's company should be SHUT DOWN!! Guess no one is investigating his shop or his business transactions. Not to mention the fact that he has had so many trolleys that have caught fire. Someone must be paying somebody higher up off to keep running such a shady DANGEROUS FLEET OF VEHICLES!

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Thu, 02/26/2009 - 12:32pm - Posted by: Anonymous

I heard you found your "Guardian Angel" That's great news.

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Thu, 02/26/2009 - 11:04am - Posted by: Anonymous

THANK GOD YOU FINALLY FOUND YOUR GUARDIAN ANGEL!!!

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Wed, 02/25/2009 - 3:05pm - Posted by: Anonymous

To 9.36AM
You must be management of The Great American Trolley Company, as NO ONE has a nice thing to say of the owner! .Right............Dick?

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Wed, 02/25/2009 - 9:36am - Posted by: Anonymous

Chuck, i am so glad that you are okay..things happen and be thankful it wasn't worse and that you are still alive..GOD was really looking after you..He knows that you are a very nice person and that you love your job and that I know deep down in my heart that you would never want to harm anyone or create any trouble for your boss and company you work for. You always have nice things to say about your job and boss and I know how much you love talking to people and treating them with much respect...I am glad that this accident wasn't that bad and I do hope that your guardian angel will come forward because it would be a great honor to personally thank him for being such a hero...GOOD LUCK, CHUCK!!

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Mon, 02/23/2009 - 4:18pm - Posted by: Rescue3000

You sink them we
save them
I certainly agree that Good Samaritan is an Angel.I hope he reads the Herald and comes forward.However, he may not, as he knows..and The Man upstairs Knows of his courage...I had a similar situation pulling 3 boys out of a burning wreck in 1984...I didn't read the herald that week and don't need a thank-you It comes Back all by itself...Good things Happen to Good People....God Bless Him and..Frederick,Whom ,God looked after withe his Angel.`

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Mon, 02/23/2009 - 3:29pm - Posted by: Anonymous

Sure hope Mr. Frederick had better sense then to return to this company has a driver! And hope the D.O.T. has investigated this company as well. People are taking their lives in their hands riding on these trolleys!

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Mon, 02/23/2009 - 3:17pm - Posted by: Anonymous

Only Chuck would drive a trolley while it was on fire! LOL Glad he is OK!!

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Mon, 02/23/2009 - 1:44pm - Posted by: Anonymous

Thank God Charles, you made it threw that inferno!
I hope the owner of the company PAID you in full for your time out of work.
I remember years ago I used to work for that outfit and when the owners wife passed away suddenly, I was docked a days pay while I attended her funeral.
And that's the truth!



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