Mayor Wayne Kratzmann and Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington … couldn’t believe their eyes as they watched a 4WD drive across flooded Alford Street this morning

January 27, 2013

“What a bloody idiot!” These were the words of Mayor Wayne Kratzmann and Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington as they watched a 4WD traverse flooded Alford Street in Kingaroy this morning.

The pair were inspecting flood damage in the area when they spotted the 4WD from across the other side of Memorial Park.

While other drivers sensibly did U-turns, the driver waited until he thought photographers weren’t watching and pushed through the water, which was flowing at a fast rate.

southburnett.com.au managed to snap a pic … but we’ve deliberately blurred the number plate.

There were “road closed” signs clearly visible to the driver on the other side of the bridge.

Luckily for the driver, a police vehicle which had been monitoring the crossing had left the area just minutes before he decided to try his foolhardy act.

This 4WD drove around a car blocking Alford Street – and then passed onto the wrong side of the road – just to save a few minutes; Haly Street, on the other side of Memorial Park was open and could have been safely traversed
Water over the road can hide significant damage … this is Lucas Road at Coolabunia today.
(Photo: Cr Damien Tessmann)

* * *
Two people had to be rescued from Widgee Creek on the Gympie-Woolooga Road at Glastonbury earlier today by Emergency Services personnel.

An Emergency Services spokesperson confirmed that Gympie staff received a call about the incident and arrived on the scene at 3:58am.

One man was rescued soon afterwards but a woman had to cling to a tree for five hours until at 9:45am when she was also rescued.

A third man, 27, who was travelling with the pair was swept away by flood waters and is still missing.

The group had been attempting to drive across the flooded creek in a van.

UPDATE January 28: The body of a 27-year-old man who was reported missing yesterday morning has been found in Widgee Creek. The man died after the vehicle in which he was driving was washed off the road.

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