Toowoomba flood fatal: Police reveal how they believe tragedy unfolded

More details have emerged from the Toowoomba region flood tragedy that claimed the life of an elderly man. It comes as roads across the Darling Downs remain cut from still-rising water.

A council worker desperately attempted to stop another driver from entering raging floodwater outside Toowoomba.

His warning was serious – just moments before, his vehicle had been taking by the fast-flowing water at Yalangur.

But when a vehicle entered the water for the second time, the result was tragic.

This is how police believe the events that led to a death of a 73-year-old Roma man yesterday unfolded.

Goombungee officer-in-charge Michael Lingard said the male driver of the council vehicle managed to remove himself from his vehicle after it was caught in floodwater.

“He was actually trying to wave down and stop this other motor vehicle from entering the water,” Sgt Lingard said.

Hours later, specialist diving crews from Brisbane located the body of a 73-year-old Roma man inside the vehicle.

Police identified the man on Wednesday afternoon.

Multiple roads around the Kelvinhaugh Yalangur Road where the tragedy unfolded had also been shut due to flooding.

Investigations into the tragedy are continuing, and the police are asking anyone with information to come forward.

The worst is not over across the Darling Downs, with flood peaks in many locations still not expected until the coming days.

Major flood warnings warming in place for the Condamine, Balonne and Dumaresq, and minor and moderate warnings in various catchments across the Darling Downs.

Many roads across multiple council areas also remain cut.

Sgt Lingard said it was the “same old message” – don’t drive through floodwater.

“Nothing’s more important in your life and the impact on your loved ones,” he said.

“We just people need to think of the impacts. You know, just wait. It’ll eventually go down and take your time.”

On the same day as the Yalangur tragedy, emergency services desperately worked to rescue several people caught in rising water in the Myall Creek at Dalby.

Three people were eventually saved after spending nearly two hours clinging to a tree for safety.

A man was also rescued after he attempted to drive his hatchback through floods near Warwick.

Meteorologists are predicting the rain to continue for the remainder of the week, before picking up again on the weekend.

Originally published as Toowoomba flood fatal: Police reveal how they believe tragedy unfolded