A MOTORIST aged in his 20s was issued with an infringement notice by police after he put the lives of his passengers at dire risk on Sunday.
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He drove his four-wheel-drive utility onto the flooded Second Crossing of the Turon River, and it was immediately washed into the water.
A triple-0 call was made at 1.30pm with four men, all aged in their 20s, at immediate risk in the floodwaters.
Two men exited the vehicle and were swept downstream, the other two stayed in the ute.
What resulted was a multi-service response including NSW Police Rescue, State Emergency Service (SES), Ambulance Service of NSW and the Sydney-based rescue helicopter.
“They were attempting their own rescue, but it failed,” ambulance Inspector Rhys Dive said of the two men who were washed down river.
“The two guys in the ute were uninjured, but suffered mild hypothermia.”
The two who were washed into the waters managed to get themselves to the riverbank and were uninjured.
“Our helicopter arrived on scene and then was put on standby and the swift water teams were used,” Inspector Dive said for the men in the ute.
Inspector Dive said the floodwaters may have only been around half a metre deep, but he said they were very strong and quick-moving.
“There was an incredible power behind the water,” he said.
Inspector Dive said it was an extremely lucky outcome for the men due to the fast-moving water and long response time for emergency services to arrive on scene.
The vehicle was stuck in the river beyond the landslide at Monaghan's Bluff on the Bridle Track.
“The response times from Bathurst were quite substantial, we had to drive all the way to Hill End and come back down the Bridle Track,” Inspector Dive said.
This was the fourth rescue in just five days of vehicles and passengers from floodwaters with two in Perthville and one near Molong last Wednesday.
“People just don’t seem to be getting the message,” Inspector Dive said.
He urged all motorists, no matter what type of vehicle they are driving, to never enter floodwaters.
Chifley Local Area Command Senior Constable Sue Rose said the driver involved in Sunday’s flood rescue was issued with a negligent driving infringement notice which has a fine of $433 and loss of three demerit points.
