Flood Tragedy in Shrewsbury.

[sogster]

I heard on the radio today that a lady died this weeki in Shrewsbury after trying to drive through a flooded road. Apparentley the vehicle was swept away and turned over trapping her inside. Thats the onlt details they gave.

If the family of the lady are members, I offer my deepest sympathy at your loss.

Sogster.

[sogster]

Last Updated : Oct 25, 2004 Print & E-mail this Article    
 
Woman, 36, dies in flooded car
 
 
 
The scene of the drowning tragedy on the river at Neen Savage
 
 
A 36-year-old woman died after her car was swept downstream in a torrent of water as flooding hit the county.

Police in south Shropshire have launched an investigation after Suzanne Elizabeth Smith was trapped in her Land Rover Freelander Serengeti.

Kayakers discovered her body slumped behind the steering wheel at 10.30am yesterday.

It is believed Miss Smith, of Bewdley, drowned as she tried to cross a nearby ford in Neen Savage, near Cleobury Mortimer.

This afternoon Miss Smith's older brothers, Richard and Chris, said their sister was single and lived alone. She was born in Kidderminster and attended Wolverhampton Law School, where she obtained a law degree.

They said their sister had travelled the world and was a happy, fun-loving girl. She worked as a solicitor in Somerset, lived for a time in New Zealand and returned home in 1999 to run a pub in Far Forest.

 
Suzanne Smith
 
 
Residents across the region were today preparing themselves for more flooding as heavy downpours hammered the region. The River Severn has already burst its banks in many areas and flood warnings have been issued to towns and villages as river levels continue to rise.

Environment Agency engineers have begun putting up flood defences up in Shrewsbury. Officials said the river was peaking in Powys and Welshpool today. Shropshire Star weatherman John Warner said heavy showers and strong winds were set to continue across the county.

The full version of this story appears in some
editions of tonight's Shropshire Star
 
Sogster.

[SteveH]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/shropshire/3950761.stm

has a bit more info, appears she was crossing on a UCR.

Sympathies to any who knew her.

[muddyweb]

We've had a few similar incidents in the various fords around here over the years.  I've had a few near misses in 'controlled' conditions (i.e. with a winch wire atttached or other vehicles standing by) and it's all too easy to underestimate the power that flowing water has.

A shame indeed.... remember it.

[Wanderer]

It was on West Midlands Central news last night. It didn't look too bad and was only a foot or so deep but very fast flowing. It would have been deeper on the night but it was mainly put down to driving it in the dark. She was local and worked nearby so used it regularily.

It looked a bit rocky as there were a lot of undercurrents.
Very sad though.

Ed

[thermidorthelobster]

How many of us here would have a go at a foot deep flooded UCR?  I know I probably would have, although on the basis of this I'd now think twice.

[Guy90]

You're right. Most of us would have had a go! Having been nearly swept away down the River Dee I've always been mega careful about flowing water and you never know what is in a flash flood.

Guy

[Wanderer]

They did say it would have been deeper during the night.
Anyone know what vehicle was involved?
The fact it was dark would have had some sort of a bearing on it.

Ed

[muddyweb]

Freelander... which of course has less under-vehicle clearance than a Disco or Defender for example, which would have contributed....

[Wanderer]

Just a thought. I wonder if the lights were hot and the cold water took the lights out? It'd be bad news losing the lights in a ford at night.

I understand the girl involved worked locally and was returning home from work so maybe the lights didn't contribute. On the video I saw it looked like there were a number of rocks or at least something causing the water to break.

Ed

[Bush Tucker Man]

Following on from this did anyone read about the helicopter rescue at Stanhope Ford? (County Durham)

The pilot hovered a few inches from the roof so another crew member could clamber onto the vehicle (Audi 80, or 100, estate) & help the guy on-board.

Quite a crowd watching from the banks.

It's a long ford & a regular on the 'LE JOG' classic rally (Lands End to John O Groats)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/3953595.stm

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/galleries/index.html?in_gallery_id=4554&in_page_id=1055


And then there's the pictures of the Virgin GWR service being battered by high-seas at Dawlish in the papers this morning

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2004501114,00.html

(not a paper I buy, but it was the only on-line picture I could find)

[SteveH]

Hmm, used to work at the virgin maintainance depot. Had 3 of the new voyagers take a soaking down in cornwall, they got left parked up by a sea wall during a storm :roll:  Fun job getting them working again  :?

[Range Rover Blues]

Hmm, used to work at the virgin maintainance depot. Had 3 of the new voyagers take a soaking down in cornwall, they got left parked up by a sea wall during a storm :roll:  Fun job getting them working again  :?

Wrong kind of water?