HOPEWELL TOWNSHIP: Man rescued from hole on mountain

By John Tredrea, Special Writer
   Dozens of firefighters, EMTs, police and other rescue personnel teamed up Saturday afternoon to free a 56-year-old Lawrence man whose leg had been trapped for hours under a boulder in a hole on Baldpate Mountain for hours.
   Baldpate is a county park in western Hopewell Township.
   After the boulder had been moved off his leg, Robert Goss was flown by Northstar to Capital Health Regional Medical Center.
   ”Mr. Goss and his friend, Ralph Mundy, dug the hole with hand shovels in an area behind a vacant home on the property in search of artifacts,” said township police Lt. Lance Maloney. “After trying to free Mr. Goss from the hole himself, Mr. Mundy called 911.”
   Mr. Goss had become trapped in the hole when a boulder fell on his leg, the lieutenant said. Mr. Mundy is a 63-year-old resident of South Amboy.
   In response to the 911 call, township police officers Mandy Grey and Sgt. Christopher Kascik arrived.
   ”Their attempts to move the boulder off of Mr. Goss’ leg were unsuccessful,” Lt. Maloney said. “The Union Fire Department and First Aid Squad arrived on the scene moments later and began the rescue operation under the direction of Union Fire Department Acting Chief Andrew C. Kintzel. Additional specialty resources units from Mercer, Bucks, Camden and Hunterdon counties also responded and assisted with the rescue operation. Mr. Goss was extricated from the hole at approximately 4:45 p.m.”
   Mercer County park rangers also were at the scene, the lieutenant said, and charges for park ordinance violations for prohibited digging are pending.