Car recovery business in Wolverhampton booming in bad weather
A car recovery business has helped around 20 cars that got stuck in flood waters in just two days, including some that drifted down a river.
Burke Bros Recovery, based on a trading estate on Fox’s Lane, Wolverhampton, has been busier than normal during the rain downpours as floods plague the Black Country and Staffordshire.
Bosses say that in the last couple days, as the weather got worse and flooding broke out in the regions, they have helped around 20 cars that got stuck.
Matius Bolton, aged 30, works for the company and has been spending his week plucking cars and drivers out of the waters.
He said: “We’re maxed out at the moment, we’re so busy as so many people are taking the risk and driving through the flood waters.
“The risk is always there for people but a lot of them still take it. I advise not to take the risk with flood waters, just take another route and don’t put lives at risk.
“As well as lives, it’s the fact that people are writing their cars off by flooding the engine, it costs money too.
“I’ve seen people with children in their cars try and risk it as well.
“We’ve attended scenes with cars trying to wade through rivers as they can’t tell where the road starts because of the flood water – they end up floating and getting taking down stream and we send out a specialist team with their gear to get people out. People don’t realise the danger of it and how powerful water is compared to your car.”
As well as the danger of flood waters, the mechanics are put at risk on the motorways during this weather.
Matius added: “It can be dangerous for us, especially on the motorway with cars and HGVs driving at 60 or 70mph through the heavy rain.
“On Wednesday night I was helping a man who had a flat tyre at the side of the M42, and when we’re working on the side of the motorway in this weather it’s so dangerous having these cars fly past us.”
