Passers-by fought to free the pair during the flash flood but they were later pronounced dead.
Image source, Jason Roberts PhotographyTwo people have died after becoming trapped in their car in a flooded road in Liverpool.
Police said officers were called to Queens Drive in the Mossley Hill area at 21:00 BST on Saturday night.
Passers-by fought to help the man and woman who were stuck inside a black Mercedes in deep floodwater.
Emergency workers took them to hospital, but they were pronounced dead.
Amateur footage filmed in the area appears to show water gushing on to the road – which dips under a bridge.
Met Office data shows heavy rainfall at more than 32mm (1.25 inches) an hour near where it happened.
Det Ch Insp Mike Dalton said: “Our thoughts go out to the family of the man and woman who sadly lost their lives in this tragic incident, despite the best efforts of passing members of the public, our officers and Merseyside Fire and Rescue Services at the scene.Â
“We are at the early stages of an ongoing investigation on Queens Drive to establish the circumstances of this tragic incident.
“Road closures remain in the area as we continue with this investigation and motorists are advised to avoid the road.”
Image source, Jason Roberts photography
A Liverpool City Council spokesman said: “This was a tragic incident and our thoughts are with those involved and their families.
“Council officers from highways and City Watch supported the emergency services in responding.”
It reiterated a plea for motorists to continue to avoid the area while the investigation takes place.
People living in the area told the Liverpool Echo the road has been problematic for some time. They said several cars had become stuck in deep water in the area over the last few months.
Liverpool’s deputy lord mayor Richard Kemp said he had repeatedly raised the alarm about flooding at the spot for about 20 years.
In a letter to the council, he said short-term measures had been carried out, such as flushing out the drains, but “this has never been enough”.
“The major problem is that the core of the drainage system is more than 150 years old and is clearly inadequate,” he said.
He called for action including a better drainage system, better lighting and an electric warning system for drivers.
Rebecca Wilson, who was in a taxi in Queens Drive at about 21:00 BST, told the Echo she thought the flooding might have been caused by a burst pipe.
She described her experience as “terrifying”, saying the water was “gushing down like waterfall” and that it looked like a burst dam.
Police are appealing to anyone who was in Queens Drive at the time and saw what happened, or stopped to try and help.
A file has been passed to the coroner, who has asked police to further investigate.
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