Another car has been washed off Cahills Crossing in the Northern Territory, prompting police to express their frustration at the risks some drivers continue to take.
This is not the first time a vehicle has been swept off the crossing and into the crocodile-infested waters of the East Alligator River, and police are once again urging motorists not risk their own lives or the lives of their passengers by attempting to cross flooded roadways.
A police search did not find anybody inside the vehicle involved in the latest incident, but it was later established there were four people on board the vehicle at the time and they were all picked up by a passing motorist.
Police say the ‘Great Wall’ vehicle involved was not equipped with 4WD capabilities.
Police also ask anyone who finds themselves in a similar situation to report the incident as soon as possible to avoid unnecessary use of resources to locate people who are no longer in danger.
Just a day earlier, a Toyota LandCruiser was washed off the road at the crossing and the occupants had to be rescued.
Cahill’s Crossing, which joins Kakadu with Arnhem Land, is said to be guarded by dozens of crocodiles. Back In 1987 a Jabiru local was killed by a saltwater crocodile there after being knocked into the river by the incoming tide.
The gates on the road are now closed until further notice and a reminder that significant penalties apply for anyone using a closed road.
Back in the mid 1970’s I took the first Police Cells into the Aborigine Mission. 3 trailers each and 4 sets involved. We moved most of them through near the high tide when the water was at its slowest. 1 trailer at a time and then rebuilt the train. At the start and finish of the tides it flows really fast and Cahills now has a resident Crocodile so patience may have been a virtue.
In late April 2014 we were stranded in Gunbalanya due to rains in the Stone Country which had once again closed Cahillls crossing. We drove down to check the river height and while there watched in amazed horror as a 4WD vehicle drove at high speed onto the crossing, faltered and then floated and wedged against the downstream rocks, The driver sat stunned for about 5 minutes until we called out to him to see if we could help (we are not seasoned 4WD drivers). He was rescued a couple of hours later by his fellow workmen who came out with two other vehicles facilitate a rescue of driver and vehicle.