A woman has tragically died after a large tree branch fell onto her vehicle during severe weather on the New South Wales coast. The fatal incident occurred on Saturday afternoon, highlighting the dangers of the ongoing storm system.
Details of the Macquarie Pass Tragedy
Emergency services were called to the Illawarra Highway at Macquarie Pass, southwest of Wollongong, around 4pm on Saturday. Reports indicated a tree branch had fallen directly onto a passing car. The female driver sustained fatal injuries in the impact. A male passenger in the vehicle received minor injuries, while two rear passengers escaped physical harm.
Police confirmed the Macquarie Pass remained closed for several hours as crews worked at the scene. The crash site falls within a broad warning zone issued by the NSW State Emergency Service (SES), stretching from north of Batemans Bay to Morisset on the Central Coast.
Statewide Warnings and Dangerous Conditions
The SES has urged residents to monitor conditions closely, citing saturated soils and severe storms that can easily bring down trees and branches. The warning is particularly critical for areas south of Sydney. Meanwhile, residents in and north of Sydney have been told to prepare for heavy rainfall and life-threatening flash flooding.
Rainfall intensity was underscored by a reading of 91.5mm in just one hour at Ettalong prior to 9.20pm on Saturday. The SES has issued specific "stay inside" warnings for suburbs including Sutherland, Engadine, Gosford, Wyong, and Hurstville.
"Very dangerous thunderstorms are likely to produce heavy, locally intense rainfall that may lead to dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding," the NSW SES stated. They advise people to move indoors away from windows and keep children and pets inside.
SES Response and Community Advice
The emergency response has been significant, with about 750 SES volunteers deployed across affected regions. They have already responded to more than 880 calls for assistance since the severe weather began. Volunteers have performed multiple flood rescues, helping people trapped in vehicles in Picton, Albion Park, and Marulan since Friday.
NSW SES Acting Assistant Commissioner Sonya Oyston urged both residents and holidaymakers to exercise extreme caution. "We’re starting to see many catchments become wet and we have already seen the impacts of flash flooding right across the coast and ranges," Oyston said.
She specifically advised tourists in unfamiliar areas to consider their camping locations and move away from under trees and next to waterways, including creeks and estuaries. The SES also recommends reconsidering any non-essential travel due to hazardous road conditions and potential closures.
