TALK about a traffic stopper.
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It turned out to be the ultimate embarrassing moment for two young members of the local constabulary when their police four wheel drive (4WD) vehicle became bogged up to its axle in the Macquarie River just downstream of the Eglinton Bridge early yesterday.
The young officers were honing their skills as part of an ongoing 4WD certification process when things turned muddier than expected.
Belated attempts to winch the vehicle from the drink were initially unsuccessful after the call went out for help at about 8.15am.
It wasn’t long before the phones at the Western Advocate starting ringing hot as stunned commuters on their way into work alerted the local newspaper to the predicament the two officers had found themselves in.
A picture tells a thousand words and journalist Brian Wood was soon on hand to see what all the fuss was about as Senior Constable Phillip Mounce-Stephens set about retrieving the vehicle he’d been driving.
“I got there just as a back-up police car arrived to try and drag the four-wheel-drive from the river, “ Brian said. “But it was to no avail. It also got bogged as well as only making it worse for the car that was stuck in the river.
“The officer sure was embarrassed though. He rolled up his pants and tried his best to make light of the situation while his mate stayed in the semi-submerged vehicle.
“It wasn’t until Brad Moras of Bathurst Towing came along that things took a turn for the better.
“He was able to get a small truck to the scene to winch the four-wheel-drive out of the river before getting another truck in to pull him from the rain-sodden river bank.”
Inspector Chris Davey from the Chifley Local Area Command said yesterday the officer was endeavouring to maintain his skill levels in the 4WD.
“Certainly the location of the vehicle in the river near the bridge did cause some embarrassment,” he said.
“One officer did end up with cold feet though, although he was certainly better off for the experience.
“No doubt his skills in a 4WD accessing boggy areas will be enhanced by what occurred.”
Mr Moras said it was a rather unusual rescue for his crew. “It was a first for us involving a police car,” he said.
“But in the past we’ve pulled plenty of cars from the river in that area. It’s very popular for people who like to park down there and enjoy the environment.”