Overview
- A police collision investigator said water ingress caused the Marcos’ Mercedes to hydrolock, leaving it undrivable in rapidly rising floodwater.
- Investigators outlined scenarios including misjudged depth, a bow wave from entering water, or visibility lost to extreme rainfall that prevented spotting the hazard in time.
- Witness Zoe Tater left a vehicle and entered the water in an attempted rescue as others described a “huge lake” and torrent under the bridge.
- Fire and police testified to “biblical” rain, turbulent conditions and estimated water depths of 12–15 feet, with emergency crews moving vehicles back as levels surged before receding.
- Police noted the location’s history of flooding, council consultations with United Utilities, and a meeting about automated barriers the week prior; the council later upgraded gullies, lighting and CCTV, with a Section 19 flood report due next year.