If the road ahead is flooded, forget it, say Qld police

Drivers have been reminded not to drive into floodwaters. Photo: Qld Police

Queensland police are reminding drivers not to drive into floodwaters after a woman was charged in the wake of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred.

Queensland Police said that on Monday (March 10) at 6am, Stafford police were called to reports of a woman trapped in a submerged vehicle on Newmarket Road.

Officers found the vehicle, unoccupied, floating in floodwater.

Police allege that the driver, a 58-year-old Enoggera woman, approached the closed road, turned back, turned back again towards the floodwaters and drove through.

Her car was submerged and lifted off the roadway.

She was charged with one count of drive without due care and attention; she is expected to appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court on April 14.

The incident follows several others: on Sunday (March 9), Morningside police rescued a 61-year-old Murarrie woman from her vehicle at Wynnum Rd, Cannon Hill, after it was stuck in floodwaters.

She was uninjured and taken home, Qld Police said.

Morningside officers also helped tow a vehicle from floodwaters on Wynnum Rd at Tingalpa that same day (March 9) after a 59-year-old Cannon Hill man tried to drive through flowing water.

On Monday (March 10) in Cairns, officers rescued an 84-year-old man from a partially submerged vehicle after he drove past a ‘road closed’ sign in Oxley. He was walked to safety and taken home.

FLOODWATERS

Brisbane Disaster District Co-ordinator, Acting Assistant Commissioner Rhys Wildman says there is no excuse for ignoring road closures and driving through floodwaters.

“By driving through floodwaters, you are putting yourself, your vehicle and first responders in danger,” Acting Assistant Commissioner Wildman said.

“The water may look shallow but a car can lose traction in as little as 15cm of water.

“Fortunately, no one was physically injured in these incidents. However, they are expensive reminders of how dangerous floodwaters can be.”

A semi-submerged car (white object) at the Archerfield wetlands on Sunday. Photo: Qld Fire Department

SAFETY TIPS

Police have issued the following safety tips as clean-up work continues:

Drive with caution as crews work to remove hazards like fallen trees and debris from roadways;
traffic lights at some roads and intersections have lost signal so approach traffic lights with caution before continuing;
if you approach flashing amber lights or non-working signals, give way to the right and drive to the conditions.