Woman pulled from icy Monongahela River in Pittsburgh after vehicle plunges in, officials say
A woman was pulled from the Monongahela River in Pittsburgh after her vehicle plunged into the water on Thursday evening, authorities said.
First responders were called to the scene near Second Avenue between the Hot Metal and Birmingham bridges near UPMC Mercy around 4:30 p.m. for reports of a vehicle falling into the river from Interstate 376.
Pittsburgh EMS Chief Amera Gilchrist said a dive team went into the icy river and found the woman inside the vehicle. The victim was rescued and taken to a local hospital. She was last listed in critical condition, Gilchrist said.
"They had the rope system hooked up," Gilchrist said. "They had a Stokes basket lowered down into the water. They had to harness the victim inside and then put them in the basket and hoist them up."
Divers went back into the water and determined there were no other victims, officials said. The vehicle remains in the Monongahela River, with Gilchrist saying she is unsure when it will be recovered.
Officials said the early indication was that the vehicle plunged into the river from I-376, also known as the Parkway East. Gilchrist could not provide specifics on Thursday about what led up to the vehicle falling into the water. The ice on the river was broken where the vehicle fell in.
Pennsylvania State Police is handling the investigation, Gilchrist said.