Man, dog escape as car rolls into Allegheny River
EMLENTON, Venango County — A Moniteau High School graduate was able to escape peril Sunday after his car rolled backward into the Allegheny River with him and his dog inside.
Brandon Bailey of Clintonville, Venango County said he and several friends went out canoeing Sunday afternoon, using the boat launch on Fifth Street to get in and out of the water.
At 3:10 p.m. they were almost ready to leave. Bailey had his canoe strapped to the top of his 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier, when the brakes seemed to give out and the car started rolling backward into the water. He was in the driver's seat and his black lab Easton was also in the car.
“I tried saving the car until I was about 20 yards into the river and then began thinking how I was getting myself and Easton out of the car,” he said.
As the car started to fill up with water and the current started carrying it downstream from the ramp, he said he was able to push open the door so both he and the dog could get out and swim to safety.
Bailey credited friend and fellow Moniteau graduate and football player Brandon Schmoll with swimming out into the river to give them a hand.
A full report will appear in tomorrow's Butler Eagle.
