Heavy rain sweeps four cars into pond

~ Motorists advised to drive with caution ~

OYSTER POND--The occupants of four cars travelling to the French side via Oyster Pond Road survived being washed into a pond near midnight Saturday. Drivers and passengers abandoned their vehicles and swam to safety when they realised their situation.

The Gendarmes, the French Fire and Rescue and Police Department together with the Dutch Fire and Rescue made sure that everyone in the vehicles was accounted for.

Everyone was thoroughly soaked, but otherwise unharmed. The vehicles were removed from the water later by a towing company.

The Office of Disaster Management (ODM) advised motorists last night to drive with caution today, as periods of moderate to heavy rain showers are expected to continue until this evening.

"Ministry VROMI and the Fire Department, after carrying out a severe weather impact assessment over the weekend, have identified several roads that are highly prone to street flooding and motorists should avoid driving on those roads during heavy rainfall events due to the current saturation of the soil," the Department of Communication DComm said in a press release Sunday night.

It identified the roads as Dutch Quarter main road to the French border, Arch Road, Sucker Garden Road from the entrance to Guana Bay to the junction with Arch Road, L.B. Scott Road, Zagersgut Road, Oyster Pond border road crossing, and Welfare Road in Cole Bay where there is an on-going road infrastructure improvement project.

DComm said Ministry VROMI and the Fire Department had received numerous reports and responded to a number of calls with respect to flooding and mudslides over the weekend, including the incident involving the four vehicles at the Oyster Pond Road border crossing.

ODM explained that the hillsides had become saturated due to the heavy rainfall on Saturday night and Sunday and there was the potential for mudslides.

"Residents living in these areas should exercise caution when leaving or heading to their homes. In the event of heavy rainfall, motorists should wait until the rain stops. Motorists and individuals who come across a mudslide should contact the Public Works Department during office hours, 542-4289 or 542-6739, or the Fire Department at 919 which is available 24 hours per day," it advised.

Source: http://www.thedailyherald.com/islands/1-islands-news/23158-heavy-rain-sweeps-four-cars-into-pond-.html

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