The Engine’s Flooded! Daughter’s Car Ends Up In River - After Dad Left Handbrake Off

IT is a familiar scenario – a father and child arguing over how a car became damaged through carelessness.

But in this case it was’t the youngster who had the explaining to do, but her father – after he forgot to put the handbrake on his daughter’s car and it rolled into a river.

Stunned onlookers watched as the vehicle travelled down an embankment and into the water before sinking to the bottom.

According to witnesses, the driver had borrowed his daughters blue Kia Picanto, which he parked at Worcester Canoe club.

But he apparently forget to make sure the handbrake was properly applied – and soon enough the car disappeared into the River Severn.

Kayak teacher Emily Lewis, 22, witnessed the incident moments before her pupils were due to arrive yesterday around 2pm.

She said: ‘I was sat having my lunch on the steps that lead down to the river when I saw the car rolling down the steps.

'I originally thought there was somebody in there, but then I realised that the car was completely empty and someone had left the handbrake off.’

'I had heard that it was a rower at the club, and he had in fact left his car at home that day so borrowed his daughter’s car – I don’t think she will be very happy at all!’

The incident happened before any pupils had arrived for Emily’s kayaking lesson, but they enjoyed hearing about the man’s misfortune.

Emily added: 'I’ve been a member for 10 years and never seen anything like it, so for the kids to see something like this quite excited them.

'We were all in a bit of shock to be honest, you just don’t expect to see a car rolling into the river just a few feet away from you.’

She added: 'At least we can carry on with the kayaking lessons.’

The environment agency visited the site to assess how they are going to pull the car out, as their Land Rover couldn’t get deep into the water to reach it.

Dave Throup, Environment Agency manager for Hereford and Worcester said they have spoken to the Canals and Rivers Trust and the council and have worked out a plan to get the car out.

He said: “It is now about 10ft underneath the water and it will have to be lifted out by a crane because if it is dragged out, there will a fair bit of damage done to the river.

'It will be the Canal and Rivers Trust that remove the car, but it won’t be until around Monday when we can get the crane here. Once it is out of the river, we will do our bit to remove any oil and solvents, but with it being a small car, there won’t be too much to clear up.’

Picture courtesy of Caters News