As is quite often said " a picture is worth a 1000 words" . A lesson for all
aussietraveller said
03:25 PM Jan 1, 2012
You have got to wonder how this happens, when approaching a crossing isn't it common sense to get out and check the depth and how fast the river is flowing.
Gerty Dancer said
06:01 PM Jan 1, 2012
aussietraveller wrote:
You have got to wonder how this happens, when approaching a crossing isn't it common sense to get out and check the depth and how fast the river is flowing.
I agree.
Unthinking or careless people put other people's safety in jeopardy in rescue attempts, but I'm glad all ended well in this case.....except for the car and van, which were hopefully insured.
ozjohn said
09:11 AM Jan 2, 2012
I remember an old proverb that covers the situation. "A fool and his money (Or Van) are soon parted". Cheers, ozjohn
Cruising Granny said
12:20 PM Jan 2, 2012
Common sense is not so common. While the experienced traveller or resident of the north knows not to attempt to cross fast-flowing flood water, the wise guy, smart alec would attempt to prove the experts wrong. This guy nearly lost his life and his wife's life by being an idiot smart a...se. He's "lucky" he only lost his car, his van and all within. If they'd parked up for a few hours the water would have receded and been passable with safety. Lesson learned, I hope,
Joe said
11:44 AM Jan 3, 2012
aussietraveller wrote:
You have got to wonder how this happens, when approaching a crossing isn't it common sense to get out and check the depth and how fast the river is flowing.
It isn't always so cut and dried. This river "Crossing" was actually the main Stuart Highway between Darwin and Katherine and it was a bridge over the river. When travelling a main road it would be a surprise to find that the road has, all of a sudden, disappeared under water and to then drive down the slope to the bridge and hit that water at 100kph (the speed limit there is 130kph so they could have been going faster) which would have been disastrous all on its own.
It would have taken a second or two for the completely unexpected fact that the bridge was under water to register and they may not have had the time to react.
http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2011/12/28/280361_ntnews.html
I agree.
Unthinking or careless people put other people's safety in jeopardy in rescue attempts, but I'm glad all ended well in this case.....except for the car and van, which were hopefully insured.
I remember an old proverb that covers the situation.
"A fool and his money (Or Van) are soon parted".
Cheers, ozjohn
While the experienced traveller or resident of the north knows not to attempt to cross fast-flowing flood water, the wise guy, smart alec would attempt to prove the experts wrong.
This guy nearly lost his life and his wife's life by being an idiot smart a...se.
He's "lucky" he only lost his car, his van and all within. If they'd parked up for a few hours the water would have receded and been passable with safety.
Lesson learned, I hope,
It isn't always so cut and dried. This river "Crossing" was actually the main Stuart Highway between Darwin and Katherine and it was a bridge over the river. When travelling a main road it would be a surprise to find that the road has, all of a sudden, disappeared under water and to then drive down the slope to the bridge and hit that water at 100kph (the speed limit there is 130kph so they could have been going faster) which would have been disastrous all on its own.
It would have taken a second or two for the completely unexpected fact that the bridge was under water to register and they may not have had the time to react.