Three Paramus police officers are being hailed heroes after they pulled a man out of a burning car on Route 17.

The accident happened just after midnight Monday. Police say a driver lost control of his car while driving southbound on Route 17 near West Ridgewood Avenue. The car hit a utility pole, knocking it down, then flipped onto its roof before bursting into flames.

Wires from the utility pole went flying in all directions. Some wires broke two windows of the Lighting Superstore on the northbound side of Route 17. Another smashed into Paramus Police Officer Gil Maynard's police cruiser as he happened to be driving by.

"I was calling out on the radio. All of a sudden something smashed into my window," says Officer Maynard. "I didn't realize until afterwards that it was the wire. It actually ripped my spotlight off my car as well."

Officer Maynard, along with Officers Anthony Mordaga and Timothy Reed were able to open the car and get the driver to safety. He is expected to be OK.

The accident shut down Route 17 completely for nearly eight hours. The right lane of Route 17 North is expected to remain closed until Tuesday afternoon while repairs are made to the utility pole that was damaged.

Police are investigating what caused the accident.