A female soldier has died after the vehicle she was travelling in was swept away by floodwaters in Polokwane

A female soldier has died after the vehicle she was travelling in was swept away by floodwaters in Polokwane during the early hours of Wednesday, 1 January, following heavy rainfall. The Renault Triber was travelling along Bok Street towards Ivy Park at around 04:00 when it encountered a V-drain overflowing with fast-flowing water and was carried away.

The deceased, who was seated in the front passenger seat, reportedly managed to phone her father while the vehicle was being swept along before she was washed out and drowned. The male driver and another female passenger, believed to be the victim’s sister, remained inside the car until it became stuck near Grobler Bridge, close to the traffic circle near the Audi dealership and Engen filling station.

The driver escaped, assisted the remaining passenger to safety, and alerted authorities. Search and rescue divers later recovered the soldier’s body about 2.5 kilometres from the scene, as authorities urged motorists to exercise extreme caution during heavy rains and avoid flooded roads.

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