'I Just Want To Say Thank You': Warren Man Looks For Driver Who Saved His Life From Flood

WARREN, NJ — Joseph Rotondo of Warren says he is lucky to be alive thanks to a mystery man in a lifted pickup truck who rescued him from the floodwaters of Hurricane Ida. Now he is on a mission to find his rescuer.

"I just want to say thank you," said Rotondo, who lives on the Warren/Bridgewater border.

On Sept. 1, Rotondo and his family were preparing to leave for their family vacation to Virginia Beach around 2 a.m. the next day. One of his daughters who works in Flemington attempted to return to their home off Strawberry Lane in Warren around 8 p.m. but ended up turning around due to the flooding.

Another of Rotondo's daughters was driving down Interstate 287 heading to the family home when she pulled over in Bedminster. She called Rotondo flipping out about the flooding so he told her he would come out to get her.

Rotondo took Brookside Drive into Bridgewater, which runs along East Branch Middle Brook, when flooding overcame his white Jeep.

"Literally within seconds, I was floating in the waters. Eventually, the jeep got turned around and crashed into a telephone pole. The crash blew out my back window. But luckily the pole stopped me because the brook was a river and I would've been swept away," said Rotondo.

Water began coming into his Jeep and Rotondo just kept an eye on a certain point of the door to see the water level.

"It just kept going up and up and eventually it was past my seat," said Rotondo. "I looked at my windshield and the water was halfway up my windshield."

Rotondo called his wife and family first who then tried calling 911. They tried calling for half an hour and couldn't get through.

"So what do you do? I had to make a choice. Do I leave the vehicle? I decided I wouldn't as long as it didn't get past my neck, I was good. It got up to my chest," said Rotondo.

As Rotondo sat in his flooded Jeep he says he seriously thought he would die.

"I was so rattled at that point. I am 63 and I've had a lot of things happen in my life but I have never come that close. I literally saw death before my eyes," said Rotondo.

At some point, the water was holding steady and possibly receding. Rotondo got a hold of his wife and family again and told them not to come anywhere near the area.

"I will stay here all night if I have to," said Rotondo.

That's when Rotondo saw a lifted pickup truck driving down Brookside Drive from Bridgewater into Warren with kids inside.

"I was trying to beep my horn, flash my lights and got his attention," said Rotondo. "He pulled as close to my vehicle as he could and I told him I am going to try and get out. He then reaches out his arm. It was truly like in the movies."

Rotondo was able to get into his truck and the driver took him back to his home, which was only a half-mile away.

Still shaken up by the experience Rotondo said he never had a chance to get the driver's information or even to say thank you.

"So much was going on. It was surreal. I am like wow, I want to say thank you," said Rotondo. "I just want to say 'Hey man, thank you'."

If anyone has information on the mystery rescuer they are asked to email Rotondo at joe@rotondo.net.

Have a news tip? Email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com.

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