Providence RI – A police officer pulled a woman and her baby from a burning Jeep Cherokee on Shabbos, moments after the vehicle crashed into a Shul on Hope Street and burst into flames.

The 1995 Jeep ran the red light at Hope and Olney streets and crashed into the Chabad House, at 360-362 Hope St., Chief Dean M. Esserman said. Braddock, who was following it at the time, did not see brake lights before the Jeep hit the triple-decker and its engine block burst into flames, said Esserman.

The front of the Jeep remained wedged into Chabad House’s foundation throughout the day yesterday as workers from Multistate Restoration labored to shore the structure up so the vehicle could be removed without causing the building’s collapse, said Kerry A. Anderson, chief of structures and zoning for the city.

Flames scorched up the length of the three-story building, but most of the damage was structural and not due to the fire. Worshipers at the Chabad House attended services in the yard behind the damaged synagogue yesterday, but declined to speak because it was Shabbos.

Firefighters retrieved the Torah from the burning building at the rabbi’s request, Esserman said.

A woman and her child were taken to a local hospital in unknown condition.

(Projo)