Kununurra emergency services issue safety reminder after floodwaters sweep car carrying children off road

East Kimberley motorists have been reminded to take extra caution when crossing waterways this wet season, after a four-wheel-drive carrying a man and two children was swept off a road near Kununurra at the weekend. An emergency call was made about 6:30pm on Saturday when gushing floodwaters at a creek crossing on Valentine Spring Road pushed the 4WD and its three occupants off the gravel track, leaving the vehicle partially submerged. The Kununurra Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service and a crew of five Kununurra State Emergency Service volunteers attended the incident, arriving to find the man and children — aged about 10 years old — had been pulled to safety by bystanders. Water levels sat about 1.4m, prompting the service to launch its new rescue boat for its maiden voyage to retrieve the group from the northern side of the crossing. Kununurra SES volunteer Matt Rosher said no one was injured and the group was relieved to be returned to safety. “It was getting pretty late and after a big day they we’re happy to get home,” he said. Department of Fire and Emergency Service district officer East Kimberley Nigel Elliott said the incident was a timely reminder for motorists to be extra vigilant while exploring the region this wet season, urging them to check weather forecasts and the Main Roads website before travelling through flood-prone areas. “The environment at the moment is soak-logged, so what you’ll find is there is flash flooding; these waters in the creeks, the waterways and drainage rise and fall really quickly and it’s the rising that causes the issues,” he said. “Nine out of 10 flood deaths in WA involve local motorists, so don’t presume that just because you know the road that it’s going to be safe to cross. “Anything over 300mm of water passed over a floodway can be enough to move a car over the road.” It comes as SES Kununurra begins a recruitment drive for more local volunteers to join its team of 28 active members. Mr Elliott said while the role could be challenging, it was a rewarding way to give back to the community.