Elderly man rescued after SUV ends up in Monongahela River

GLASSPORT, Pa. — A man was rescued after his SUV ended up in the Monongahela River in Glassport Thursday morning.

When the elderly driver, Joe Julian, ended up in the water, he called his friend, Richard Lattanzi — the mayor of Clairton — for help.

PHOTOS: SUV pulled from Monongahela River in Glassport

“Something told me I should take the call. And I answered it, and Joe simply said, ‘Mayor I need your help. Can you help me with something? I’m in the water,” said Lattanzi.

Lattanzi said Julian was confused, telling him he got into the water, was stuck and needed a tow.

“He said that, ‘I’m not sure where I’m at, but I’m in the water and the water is rising,” Lattanzi said.

Lattanzi alerted the authorities.

When police arrived, they found the vehicle in the river at the end of a boat ramp with Julian still inside with water up to his knees.

Rescuers said the driver was confused and ended up in the river just before 7 a.m.

Photos taken by Citizen’s Hose Company #1 of Glassport shows the Buick Encore submerged in the river about 15 feet from the shore.

First responders told Channel 11 police got there first and helped Julian out of the car.

The Glassport Fire Department’s swift water team helped the tow company get the car out of the water.

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