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County medical examiner's office at scene in Oakmont of search for vehicles in Allegheny River | TribLIVE.com
Valley News Dispatch

County medical examiner's office at scene in Oakmont of search for vehicles in Allegheny River

Michael DiVittorio
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Michael DiVittorio | TribLive
Emergency responders including Blawnox Fire Rescue responded to the Oakmont boat ramp on the Allegheny River Sunday to search for a reported vehicle in the river.
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Michael DiVittorio | TribLive
Emergency responders responded to the Oakmont boat ramp on the Allegheny River Sunday for a reported vehicle in the river.
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Michael DiVittorio | TribLive
Emergency responders responded to the Oakmont boat ramp on the Allegheny River Sunday. Monroeville Fire Department dive teams were among those who responded.
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Michael DiVittorio | TribLive
Monroeville Fire Department dive team support Mike Burkett, (left) watches as diver Michael Kohlmann prepares to go into the Allegheny River in Oakmont in search of an overturned vehicle. Teams used a Blawnox fire and rescue boat Sunday evening.
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Michael DiVittorio | TribLive
A Monroeville Fire Department incident command truck was in the parking lot of the dormition of the Theotokos Greek Orthodox Church in Oakmont on Sunday as part of a search for vehicles in the Allegheny River.

Emergency responders from multiple departments took to the Allegheny River in Oakmont to locate an overturned vehicle found by a fisherman Sunday afternoon.

Oakmont fire Chief Joe Flanick said crews were dispatched around 5:20 p.m. for a call regarding a car in the river.

As part of the investigation, a second vehicle was located and searched by divers. Both vehicles appeared to have been in the river for an extended time, divers said.

A vehicle from the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s office and county detectives arrived at the scene around 9 p.m. Sunday. Further information as to why they were at the scene was not available. A towing company was at the scene as well.

Monroeville Fire Department dive teams and Blawnox Fire Rescue worked in the the water from the boat launch near the Dormition of the Theotokos Greek Orthodox Church along Washington Avenue.

Monroeville diver Michael Kohlmann said the first vehicle is believed to have been in the river for years based on the mud and silt on the vehicle.

He said the vehicle may come apart if crews were to try to remove it.

Monroeville diver Matt Beltz said the second vehicle appears to be a GMC sport utility vehicle. It is covered with algae and has also likely been in the river for quite some time, he said.

The condition of the doors and windows indicate it may have been a newer model and in the water for less time than the first vehicle.

Michael DiVittorio is a TribLive reporter covering general news in Western Pennsylvania, with a penchant for festivals and food. He can be reached at mdivittorio@triblive.com.

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Categories: Local | Valley News Dispatch
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