hmm, wonder if i can make it photos taken at the murray's bridge crossing over the condamine...
TRANSCRIPT
![Page 1: Hmm, Wonder If I Can Make It Photos taken at the Murray's Bridge crossing over the Condamine River in Southern Queensland, Australia May 2008](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022081516/55146d30550346414e8b5ed5/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
Hmm, Wonder If I Can Make It
Photos taken at the Murray's Bridge crossing over the Condamine River in Southern
Queensland, AustraliaMay 2008
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Flooding in the upper Condamine in early January 2008 produced conditions unseen for more than a decade.
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A car appears on the far side of the flooded bridge. The driver seems to be thinking about going for it.
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Ignoring the “Road Closed” sign, he heads straight in. Doesn’t even bother walking in a little to check the depth.
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Yes, he’s towing a boat.
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The river is about 150 meters across and the current is really strong.
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This chart shows the peak of the flood recorded at the bridge recording station. The crossing attempt was made at 6 p.m.—the highest possible level.
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The Bridge is normally 6-7 meters above the water level here.
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The current pushes the vehicle and boat downstream.
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Note that there is now way to tell whether the bridge has been washed away.
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Note also the youthful passenger—a great lesson in risk management from the kid’s father at the wheel.
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The driver seemed nonchalant as he opened the doors to let the water drain out. He announced that he had been through deeper water than that.
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Questions Would you like to be his insurance agent? If he had a snorkel, would he try to drive
underwater? Is this maneuver recommended in the
owner’s manual? Did he forget that he wasn’t in the boat,
towing the vehicle, instead of vice versa?
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Closing Thought From Frank Young, emergency
management director in Warren County, Ohio, commenting during the March 2008 floods: “The biggest problem has been people driving into floodwater. There are a lot of stupid people. When that sign says, ‘Road closed, high water,’ that’s what it means.”