News 12 interviews officer who saved motorcyclist on Garden State Parkway

On July 9, Joseph Aufiero and his wife were heading home from a concert when they found a man in dire need of help after a hit-and-run on the Garden State Parkway.
Aufiero, a Mount Pleasant police officer, told News 12 he noticed first responders hadn’t arrived yet, so he pulled over and approached the scene with a first aid kit.
He described a man who had been thrown from his motorcycle, asking Aufiero to save his legs.
“I knew right away as soon as I saw the pool of blood that I had 60 seconds,” said Aufiero as he recalled the victim, whose identity is not being released, begging for help.
Aufiero said he then quickly tied tourniquets to both of the victim’s legs.
Shortly after, an ambulance transporting another patient happened to pass by and was able to assist.
The victim was sent to a hospital in Hackensack.
Aufiero told News 12 that the two have since been in touch, and the victim has thanked him for saving his life.
“He told me that I saved his life and asked me why I stopped,” said Aufiero. “I told him I had to stop, I could have done something.”
News 12 is told the two have plans to meet again soon.
According to state police, the driver who hit the motorcyclist was arrested the following day and has been charged with leaving the scene of an accident. He is currently out on bail.