NELSON Mandela Bay's flooded Seaview Road claimed its 11th victim when Newton Park resident Charlene Blanford's car became stuck in the stagnant floodwaters.
Her ordeal came a day after regional rugby boss Cheeky Watson's expensive BMW was engulfed by the flooded area after he tried to drive through the lake which has formed over the road after record winter rains.
City officials have warned motorists not to try to cross the flooded area, as it is deeper than most realise.
Also, mysteriously, the warning signs posted at either end of the flooded area on the road disappear from time to time, only to be found in the bushes nearby.
This has given rise to speculation that unscrupulous tow-truck drivers lay in wait for unknowing drivers – not seeing any warning signs – to become stranded.
About R5-million is needed to level the road, but authorities have said there is no budget for it at this stage.
Blanford said she had not seen any warning signs before she hit the water and her car was submerged.
"I did not think the water was that deep. I was surprised when my car's engine just cut out and the car was filled with water," she said.
The big problem is the disappearing warning signs, Ward 1 councillor Stanford Slabbert said.
"The water in that area is about 3m deep and it cannot be pumped anywhere. We have tried to get different kinds of warning signs up, but they keep disappearing.
"Motorists by now should know that the Seaview Road is flooded and there is no quick fix to that problem," he said.
Henry Steyns, who works for a civil engineering company contracted by the provincial government to do road maintenance, said they kept replacing the warning signs.
