#77-year-old NJ woman rescued from snowed-in van

A 77-year-old woman who lives in her van had to be rescued by Newark firefighters after snow from this week’s storm trapped her inside, officials said.

The elderly woman, who was parked outside 67 Lincoln Park, had called police Wednesday afternoon, requesting help, but they responded to the wrong location after an emergency operator recorded the wrong address.

Officers called the woman back to seek the correct location, but she did not answer, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka said in a press release.

On Thursday morning, the woman called the fire department, who responded to the proper address and shoveled a path from the sidewalk to the woman’s driver’s side door, officials said.

“We regret that human error played a role in delaying our response to the correct address, although we attempted to call her for a correction,” Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose said in a statement.

“I’m grateful that she reached out again today and that this incident didn’t end tragically.”

The woman refused medical attention on scene. She also refused offers from firefighters to dig out the van.