A stern warning has been issued to motorists after a woman was charged for driving through floodwaters caused by ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred in south-east Queensland.
Police were called to rescue a woman trapped in her car on Newmarket Road in Brisbane about 6am yesterday but arrived to find it empty.
The woman, a 58-year-old from Enoggera, had allegedly driven through the floodwaters when her car became submerged and began to float.
Police later found and charged the woman with one count of driving without care.
She will face Brisbane Magistrates Court on April 14.
It is just one of many rescues emergency services have been called to since cyclonic conditions caused major rainfall, dangerous winds and floodings across south-east Queensland and northern New South Wales last week.
Yesterday, police freed an 84-year-old man who became trapped in his partially submerged car after driving past a road closed sign in Oxley.
On Sunday, police rescued a 61-year-old woman from Murarrie after her car became stuck in floodwaters on Wynnum Road in Cannon Hill.
On that same road in Tingalpa, a 59-year-old man from Cannon Hill tried to drive through flowing water and police were called to help tow his car.
Popular Gold Coast beach thrashed by Alfred storm surges
No one was injured in any of the incidents.
Brisbane disaster district coordinator and acting assistant commissioner Rhys Wildman said there was “no excuse for ignoring road closures and driving through floodwater”.
“By driving through floodwaters, you are putting yourself, your vehicle and first responders in danger,” he said.
“The water may look shallow, but a car can lose traction in as little as 15cm of water.”
Emergency services are still clearing fallen trees and debris from roads across the ex-cyclone affected region.
Some traffic lights at roads and intersections remain without any signal.
Motorists who approach roads with non-working signals or flashing amber lights are advised to always give way to the right and drive with extra caution and care.
