Bogota police rescue bride from flooded car on her wedding day

Joshua Jongsma | NorthJersey

Show Caption Hide Caption WATCH: Bogota police rescue bride from flooded vehicle Bogota Police Officer Michael Laferrera helps a bride to safety during the flooding Aug. 11, 2018 at River Road and Elm Avenue.

If rain on your wedding day is good luck, a bride and groom in Bogota on Saturday should buy some lottery tickets.

The wedding party was stuck in the massive flooding that Saturday's storm unleashed. The happy couple from Dover were stranded at River Road and Elm Avenue at about 6 p.m. when their car was submerged in the water.

"They're in pretty decent spirits considering everything that happened," Bogota police Sgt. Geoffrey Cole said. "The floods came so quickly, and that area's prone to flooding."

A brook about 50 feet behind the intersection makes it a problematic spot, Cole said.

Bogota police got the call and sprang into action. Officer Michael Laferrera stood on top of a police vehicle with water nearly up to the headlights. Laferrera extended his hand, and new bride, Sabrina Torens of Dover, climbed out of the car through the sunroof. Clutching her white dress, she grabbed Laferrera's hand and he helped her across to the department's vehicle, better equipped for hazardous terrain. Police also rescued groom Connor Reilly.

Fortunately, dress, shoes and all stayed dry through the ordeal, the sergeant said.

"It was definitely a first for my career and his career," Cole said of Laferrera's experience and his own.

The wedding party was coming from Ridgefield Park, but Cole said they left the couple alone from that point to enjoy their big day.

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Saturday's storm brought flooding through much of North Jersey, with road closures and stranded cars reported throughout the region. Cars were washed down the Peckman River in Little Falls, and a Fairview apartment complex was evacuated when a retaining wall collapsed.

"We definitely get people stuck often, but it was her wedding day, so it was a dynamic situation," Cole said of the Bogota rescue. "Nobody was worse for the wear, besides the vehicle."

Email: jongsma@northjersey.com