Lives being put at risk by motorists, pedestrians attempting to enter floodwater: Police

Drivers and pedestrians attempting to cross floodwater are unnecessarily putting lives at risk, police have warned.

Emergency services have roared into action with the flooding occurring along the Namoi River and spilling onto local roads.

Recent incidents have seen drivers trapped in floodwater or, in other instances, pedestrians attempting to cross floodwater.

Officer-in-charge of the Narrabri sector, Chief Inspector Robert Dunn, said attempts to cross through floodwater, by car or on foot, were
extremely concerning and potentially life-threatening for the individuals involved.

Emergency services were called to assist a 22-year-old man who was stuck in floodwaters on Rangari Road, attempting to drive to Narrabri.

Multiple road closure signs were located on the side of the road. However, the vehicle became submerged five kilometres east of the Kamilaroi Highway.

When emergency services – including NSW Police and the SES – attempted to assist the man, they were unable to get to the location due to the flood levels.

A short time later, the man was rescued from the roof of his vehicle by an SES crew in a boat.

The man was uninjured and did not require medical treatment.

Police later issued the 22-year-old with an infringement notice for the offence of disobey road access sign. The offence carries a fine and a loss of two demerit points.

A similar incident occurred in the daytime on Turrawan Road last Friday.

A motorist became stranded when attempting to drive through water towards Narrabri.

Emergency services, including police and the Narrabri VRA, assisted at the scene.

Chief Insp Dunn voiced particular concern with people attempting to cross the Violet Street bridge.

He said police had received multiple reports of people attempting to cross the bridge while floodwater from the overflowing Narrabri Creek spilled onto the bridge.

“We also received reports of people attempting to walk across the debris which has been located by the edge of the bridge,” he said.

“It would just take part of the debris to come loose, and a person could be swept under and into the waterway resulting in a life-threatening or even fatal outcome.”