Postal employee is dubbed ‘hero’
Dion Carotenuto discovered pipe bomb on mail route
COATESVILLE » It was anything but a typical winter day for Letter Carrier Dion Carotenuto.
At the same time as children were filing off a nearby school bus, Carotenuto discovered a pipe bomb at the corner of 14th Avenue and Olive Street, in Caln Township.
Thanks to the quick action of the letter carrier, who immediately called police and his supervisor, Mike Hinfey, no one was hurt, the area was secured and the device was safely removed.
At first the carrier dismissed what he saw out of the corner of his eye as possibly a chunk of car tire, but then the 25-year veteran carrier saw the fuse on what he said looked like a stick of dynamite.
“It was not something you want a child taking home and setting off in their basement,” Carotenuto said, during an interview at the historic Coatesville Post office in the lobby made of marble, terra cotta tile and featuring gargoyles to match those outside.
Within a couple of minutes, two blocks in each direction were sealed off by police and the carrier said with a smile that he was “going to get out of there while I still had work to do.”
Dottie Taylor is Postmaster in Coatesville and is proud of Carotenuto.
“Our carriers are very good at keeping an eye out for the community,” she said. “We see cars in a driveway that are not supposed to be there or someone who doesn’t pick up their mail,” she said. “We save lives.
“Parents of the children in the area are calling Dion a hero.”
The carrier said he knows more about people than they think he does.
“We are the eyes in the community and we see when something is wrong out there,” the carrier said.
Carotenuto carries a bag of mail weighing up to 35 pounds, during a 10- or 12hour shift.
“I love my customers like family,” he said. “I take care of seniors and people with disabilities.”
He regularly spends his half-hour lunch break with a customer.
Carotenuto chose to transfer to Coatesville.
“I wanted to be in Coatesville,” he said. “It’s a great city.”
The National Association of Letter Carriers recently highlighted Carotenuto’s action on its website. On its social media sites, scores of people congratulated Carotenuto.
“Thank you for your service to the community and saving these kids from harm,” said Carolyn Joyce Huege. “You are a hero kind sir.”