Police charge woman with driving though ex-cyclone Alfred floodwaters in Brisbane amid several rescues

Queensland Police have issued a warning to the public after rescuing several stranded drivers and even charging a woman who allegedly tried to drive through floodwaters in Brisbane.

Parts of south-east Queensland and northern NSW have been affected by severe weather over the past week from a storm system which began as Tropical Cyclone Alfred before being downgraded.

Police and emergency services have expressed exasperation at people who attempted to cross floodwaters in cars.

In Dorrigo, near Coffs Harbour, in NSW, one man tragically lost his life after climbing out of his ute on the weekend after it became stranded in fast-moving floodwaters.

Queensland Police revealed on Tuesday that in a separate incident local officers responded to reports a woman was trapped in a submerged vehicle on Newmarket Road.

When the officers arrived, they found an unoccupied vehicle floating in floodwaters.

The 58-year-old Enoggera driver allegedly approached a closed road, did a U-turn and then turned back towards the floodwaters to try and drive through.

Her vehicle became submerged and lifted from the roadway.

She was charged with driving without due care and attention.

Queensland police have also been involved in several other rescues, including a 59-year-old man who tried to drive through floodwaters in Tingalpa, an 84-year-old man who drove past a road closed sign in Oxley and a 61-year-old woman trapped in her vehicle in Cannon Hill.

Brisbane Disaster District coordinator, acting assistant commissioner Rhys Wildman, said there was no excuse for driving through floodwaters or ignoring road closures.

“By driving through floodwaters, you are putting yourself, your vehicle and first responders in danger,” he said.

“The water may look shallow, but a car can lose traction in as little as 15cm of water.

“Fortunately, no one was physically injured in these (Brisbane) incidents, however they are expensive reminders of how dangerous floodwaters can be.”

Drivers in the Brisbane area are urged to keep exercising caution while work crews are removing hazards from the roads and traffic lights still malfunctioning.