New Jersey

NJ man shocked when bill for ambulance ride throws him into collections 2 years later

Published

1 year ago

October 24, 2024

NJ man shocked when bill for ambulance ride throws him into collections 2 years later

MORRIS PLAINS, New Jersey (WABC) — A New Jersey husband and father got the scare of his life, not when he took an unexpected ride to the Emergency Room, but when he got a bill two years later.

“I got dizzy, I fell this way. I must have bounced off this corner right here with my ribs. I wound up here in the driveway,” said Kenneth Doss, patient.

It was a 911 emergency when Doss blacked out and broke two ribs in his Morris Plains driveway.

“I didn’t know if I punctured a lung. I started to sweat profusely. My heart started to race. I was getting chest pains the whole bit. My wife and daughter got out of the car and came running out. Oh, my God. What happened? What happened? They tried. They were frantic. My wife calls 911,” he said.

EMS was dispatched.

“It was all a blur,” Doss said.

He was placed on a stretcher, loaded into an ambulance, and taken to the ER. But, it’s what happened two years later that nearly put him in cardiac arrest: a collection notice.

“The amount was for $8,502.37,” Doss said.

The ambulance brought Doss to the nearest hospital, which is less five miles away from his home.

Break down the $8,500, and it cost him $1,700 per mile.

“It’s exorbitant. When you’re talking about $8,500 for a trip to the hospital, I think it’s crazy expensive,” Doss said.

Doss says he only received this notice, a final notice to pony up $8,500 for that ambulance ride from back in 2022 just a few months ago, and now that huge bill landed him, not in the hospital, but in collections.

He said he never got anything in the mail.

Doss filed an appeal, and here’s the knock-out gut punch those ribs of his, the appeal was denied. Aetna stated he was outside the time window to dispute the bill.

“Oh, you only have 18 months to file an appeal. Well, I can’t file an appeal unless I know that there’s a bill to begin with,” Doss said. “This is wrong. This is absolutely wrong.”

7 On Your Side asked Aetna to escalate and within hours of our email, they told us they were pleased to reopen the case. The insurance company agreed to pay Doss’ ambulance bill in full.

“I could have done a cartwheel!” he said. “They are paying the amount of $8,502! This is all because of 7 On Your Side. I would still be on the hook if not for this,” he said. “Thank you so much for getting involved. Because without you, without you, there is no way. There is…I don’t have words. There’s just no way.”

ALSO READ: 7 On Your Side helps utility worker get retirement money owed by ex-employer

Nina Pineda helps the former PSE&G lineman get access to his retirement fund.

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New Jersey

Wrong-way driver charged in I-80 crash that injured N.J. State Police trooper

Published

4 hours ago

December 16, 2025

Press Room

Wrong-way driver charged in I-80 crash that injured N.J. State Police trooper

An alleged drunk, wrong-way driver was arrested following a crash on Interstate 80 in Warren County, officials said.

Robert Felegi was driving a pickup truck west in the eastbound lanes in Knowlton when he crashed head-on into a New Jersey State Trooper’s vehicle near milepost 1.4 around midnight Tuesday, State Police said.

The trooper had emergency lights and sirens activated while trying to alert motorists of a hazard ahead, authorities said.

The trooper suffered minor injuries, while Felegi was not hurt.

Felegi, 67, of Middleport, Pennsylvania, was charged with assault by auto and driving under the influence.

He was brought to the Warren County jail ahead of a detention hearing. An attorney for Felegi is not listed in court records.

investigation, and no additional information is available.

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New Jersey

NJ casino workers continue push to end smoking loophole

Published

16 hours ago

December 16, 2025

Press Room

NJ casino workers continue push to end smoking loophole

TRENTON, N.J. (WPVI) — New Jersey casino workers, who are pushing to permanently ban smoking in their workplaces, held a rally in Trenton on Monday.

A hearing was held to discuss a lawsuit that aims to close the smoking loophole in the Garden State.

For years, casino workers have been pursuing protections against secondhand smoke in their workplaces.

RELATED | Judge allows smoking to continue in Atlantic City casinos, dealing blow to workers

New Jersey’s Smoke-Free Air Act largely bans indoor smoking, but casinos have a long-standing exemption.

The lawsuit filed last April by the United Auto Workers, which represents dealers at the Bally’s, Caesars and Tropicana casinos.

In August 2024, a judge ruled in favor of the casinos to allow smoking to continue.

“Casino workers are expected to clock in to work every day despite inevitably facing a toxic environment that could cause countless health issues, including cancer, heart disease, and asthma,” said Nancy Erika Smith, the lawyer representing Casino Employees Against Smoking Effects (CEASE) and the UAW on Monday.

“We’re asking the court to find the exemption in New Jersey’s Smoke-Free Air Act unconstitutional and void it immediately. We hope this case will serve as a precedent for casinos across the country to close their smoking loopholes and stop poisoning their workers,” added Smith.

The casinos have warned that thousands of jobs and millions in gambling revenue and taxes could be lost if smoking was banned.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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New Jersey

11-Vehicle Crash Closes Turnpike, College Student Abducted: NJ Weekend

Published

1 day ago

December 15, 2025

Press Room

11-Vehicle Crash Closes Turnpike, College Student Abducted: NJ Weekend

A teenager was shot to death in Jersey City, a woman was killed in a fiery crash with a dump truck in Ocean County, and a man is in critical condition after an SUV hit him in a Princeton crosswalk.

Here are the headlines from the weekend in New Jersey you may have missed.

Teen Shot Dead In Jersey City Apartment, Prosecutor Says

A 16-year-old boy was found shot to death in Jersey City on Friday night, prosecutors said.

Woman Killed In Fiery Head-On Dump Truck Crash In Ocean County

A woman was killed Friday when her van hit a dump truck head-on in Jackson and burst into flames, Jackson police said.

Evelin Villanueva-Detejeda, 43, of Perth Amboy, was killed in the crash that happened about 2 p.m. on Toms River Road (Route 571) near Osprey Place, Sgt. Edward Travisano said.

Six people sustained minor injuries in the collision late Friday afternoon, according to State Police Tpr. Christopher Postorino.

Read more: 11-Vehicle Crash, Overturned Truck Shut Down Turnpike In South Jersey: Police

NJ College Student Abducted From Campus, Sexually Assaulted By Armed Man, Police Say

A Union County man is facing a slew of charges after kidnapping a woman, according to the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office.

Akram Elsayed, 28, of Roselle, has been arrested after an investigation found that he’d kidnapped a woman and handcuffed her to the door of a car, police said.

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