A WOMAN died after a van crashed into a ditch as Storm Henk battered south Warwickshire.
The VW caddy van left the A452 Kenilworth Road just past the Ramada Hotel towards Leamington at around 4.40pm on Tuesday afternoon. No other vehicle was reportedly involved.
Firefighters were first on the scene to carry out CPR on the woman, in her 50s, who was driving. Paramedics took over and provided advanced life support, but it was not possible to save her and she was confirmed dead at the scene.
A man in the the van was assessed by paramedics but was uninjured.
There had been warning reports on social media about water covering the road following the constant downpour.
Earlier in the day firefighters rescued a couple from a car trapped in flood water in Kenilworth.
Warwickshire Fire & Rescue Service was called to the Ford, in the shadow of the castle, around 5.30am on Tuesday morning after a car was unable to get through the fast flowing water.
Using an inflatable raft, firefighters managed to free a man and a woman who were both uninjured.
Firefighters were kept busy throughout the day as heavy rain brought flooding to many areas and strong winds brought down a number of trees.
It made for hazardous driving conditions and prompted a number of calls for extra care on the region’s roads.
A Warwickshire County Council spokesperson said: “Firefighters have already rescued several residents trapped in their vehicles after driving through flood water and are continuing to support local communities where residents have become trapped.
“Partners are also working together as part of Warwickshire Local Resilience Forum to plan and prepare for incidents should flood levels continue to rise across the county causing risk to life and properties.
“Sandbags are being distributed to properties which have been identified as at risk and preparations for rest centres are in place should they be needed.”
Across south Warwickshire, residents both at home and out and about were hit by the storm.
The Recreation Ground in Stratford was submerged, drains overflowed on the ever-busy Birmingham Road into the town, Shipston and Bidford also saw homes and businesses flooded, and the A4189 Warwick to Henley road was closed.
The Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford took the decision to cancel its scheduled performances of The Box of Delights and The Fair Maid of the West as river levels continued to rise in the neighbouring Avon.
An RSC spokesperson said: “Our intention is always to go ahead with a performance as long as it is safe to do so, and cancelling performances is a last resort.”
The following day 28 flood warnings remained in place across Warwickshire and there were also 16 flood alerts.
The Environment Agency warned things could still get worse before they got better with more rain forecast.
The agency warned river levels, including the Avon, were expected to either remain high or fall only slightly before the end of the week.
Be flood ready
* Check which rivers have flood alerts or flood warnings in place by visiting check-for-flooding.service.gov.uk/alerts-and-warnings.
Sign up to the free Floodline service to receive flood warnings by telephone, text, or email. Register at the link above or call 0345 988 1188.
For flooding of public drains and roads, contact your local council. Call the Environment Agency Floodline on 0345 988 1188 if you see flooding from collapsed or badly damaged riverbanks, or unusual changes in river flow. Main rivers may also be blocked by a vehicle or fallen trees and increase the risk of flooding.
Call Severn Trent Water on 0800 783 4444 if you see flooding from sewers and burst water mains.
