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Rower, Bicyclist Come To Aid After Car Plunges Into Schuylkill River

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - There was a dramatic rescue Thursday morning near Boathouse Row, after a car skidded off Kelly Drive and plunged into the Schuylkill River.

Chris DeFelice says he was rowing on the river when he heard the screech of tires.

"I turn around and I just see this car kind of spin out of control, going backwards down towards the river, just goes right into the river," he said.

As he paddled over, the blue Toyota started to sink.

"I saw that the window was open. I saw a head in there and I saw a kid. And I was just like, 'Hey, are you all right? Are you gonna be all right? He was just, like, 'We can't swim in here,' " DeFlice explained.

Defelice called for help. A bicyclist jumped in and the two of them rescued the driver and his passenger.

Police say everyone is now doing okay. The cause of the accident is under investigation.

As for the hero rescuers, "I'm just glad I was there to help out," DeFelice said modestly.


Reported By Margie Smith, KYW Newsradio; Oren Liebermann, CBS 3

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