Cruising toward Christmas: Latrobe woman gifted car during holiday season

A 70-year-old Latrobe woman who didn't have a car for five years after failing an inspection was gifted a 2000 Lincoln Town Car by longtime friend Joseph Ranatovic and now owns one. increase. For years, Angie Bush had to rely on public transport, car service and the kindness of friends to get where she wanted to go. Retired and unable to afford a new car, Bush said he felt like he had lost not only reliable transportation, but also freedom. Bush initially relied on public bus transportation, but he quickly found himself uneasy about that environment amid the coronavirus pandemic. Her doctor told her of her high risk and pleaded with her to take precautions. "I was sitting in my apartment staring into four walls," Bush said. "I couldn't go anywhere because there was no safe way to go anywhere." On Thursday, Bush broke down in tears as Joseph Ranatovic and his wife Kimberly stopped in front of her apartment lobby. "I'm just in shock," Bush said. "These are great people." When Ranatovic gave Bush the keys, he assured her that he had new tires for the car. I answered no. "This is the best Christmas I've had in 70 years," Bush said. "I am very blessed." Ranatovic owns Rideman Transportation, and when he called Bush's company to ask how much it would cost to get to and from her and a friend's appointment in Pittsburgh, the idea was to let Bush have the car. . After he tried to apply a discount to the women, they still couldn't afford the cost. "I felt very sick," Ranatovic said. “Today, older people face terrifying challenges. This is what I could do for my friend.” Ranatovic recently received an upgraded car for the service and was able to gift one of the company's older cars to Bush. "I checked (the car)," Ranatovic said. "It's a good car that runs well." Ranatovic and Bush were neighbors before Bush moved into his current apartment. He knew she had diabetes and high blood pressure and needed a way to make sure she got to her doctor's appointments. "If her friend needs to drive to an appointment, I know she will drive her," Ranatovic said. "She's just that kind of woman."