Police urge motorists to heed warning signs after driver gets car stuck in flooded ford in Gawler river
A DRIVER is facing traffic charges after ignoring road signs and trying to cross the flooded ford of a river in Adelaide’s north.
A MOTORIST is facing traffic charges after ignoring road signs and trying to cross the flooded ford of a river in Adelaide’s north.
Emergency services were called to a closed section of Wingate Rd, Buchfelde, after reports a car was stuck trying to cross the Gawler River just after 7.30am on Saturday.
State Emergency Service (SES) personnel went to the scene and waded out into the fast flowing metre-deep water to check if anyone was inside.
But the car had been abandoned after getting struck halfway across.
A search was launched to try to find the driver.
Police made contact with a 33-year-old Angle Vale man who was found uninjured in Gawler.
The car was eventuallytowed from the river.
It sustained water damage and damage to the front end after hitting a submerged tree.
The driver will be interviewed and likely to face charges including disobeying a road sign and driving without due care.
Police want to remind all drivers a “road closed” or a “road flooded” sign means that road is unsafe to travel on.
Drivers should turn back and take an alternative route as floodwater may be deeper and faster flowing than it appears and may often contain hidden snags and other debris.