Authorities in New South Wales have launched an investigation into the death of a 60-year-old woman whose body was discovered in her vehicle in floodwaters in the town of Dorrigo, located west of Coffs Harbour, on Thursday afternoon.
The incident follows a series of flood-related emergencies across the region. Police previously reported that the woman and a police officer were traveling in a convoy on Wednesday night when they encountered floodwaters. According to police, the officer advised the woman that he could not continue his sedan through the floodwaters, provided her with his phone number, and urged her not to proceed. Despite these warnings, the woman allegedly kept driving into the flooded area.
However, the woman’s family disputes the police account, claiming she has been unfairly portrayed as “reckless.” They assert that the police officer had assured her he knew a safe route through the floodwaters and had guided her to a road.
As the investigation continues, NSW Police confirmed on Saturday that they are examining the circumstances of the woman’s death. Residents in flood-affected parts of NSW have been urged not to drive through floodwaters, following multiple rescue operations for stranded motorists.
NSW State Emergency Service (SES) Commissioner Michael Wassing reported that there are currently 148 flood warnings across the state. The SES has conducted 768 flood rescues, nearly all of which took place along the Mid North Coast, most involving drivers caught in rising waters.
The ongoing flood crisis underscores the dangers of attempting to navigate flooded roads, with authorities emphasizing the importance of heeding safety warnings to prevent further tragedies.
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