February 25, 2013
Police have confirmed the death of a 77-year-old local after an incident at Sandy Creek near Kilcoy this afternoon.
Around 4:00pm, police received information that a vehicle was submerged in Sandy Creek near Mary Smokes Creek Road.
The man, the sole occupant of the vehicle, was pronounced dead at the scene. He is believed to be a local resident.
Initial reports indicated the man’s vehicle may have been swept off the road by floodwaters.
Police will prepare a report for the Coroner.
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Today’s heavy rainfall has sparked a number of temporary road closures around the region.
The D’Aguilar Highway was blocked at Kilcoy, the Brisbane Valley Highway was blocked between Toogoolawah and Moore, the Burnett Highway was blocked at Ban Ban Springs and the Bunya Highway had water across the road at Dingo Creek, near Wondai.
Buildings in the northern end of Moore Street in Goomeri were breaking out the sandbags again in case of flooding, less than a month after the Australia Day weekend floods.
The Gympie Local & District Disaster Management Group has been activated as a result of today’s heavy rainfall.
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A woman and her two children will bunk down in a farmhouse near Ellesmere overnight after their vehicle became trapped between two flooded culverts on Parker Road.
At first it was feared the trio may need to be rescued by SES boat but they managed to make their own way to safety without the assistance of emergency crews.
They were assisted by a local landholder.
