Two bodies have been found in the search for a father and son who went missing after their car crashed into a river near Wisemans Ferry in wet weather.

Saint Albans

A tragic accident occurred near St Albans, where a father and son lost their lives after their vehicle fell approximately 10 metres into the Macdonald River. A 24-year-old passenger managed to escape and seek help, but recovery efforts were hampered by wet conditions and communication difficulties. 

The incident is one of over 400 emergencies attended by the State Emergency Service in a single day, as heavy rain and flooding affect large parts of the state. Authorities have urged the public to avoid driving through floodwaters and to remain vigilant as the risk of flash flooding continues.

Father, son die in car accident amid severe weather in St Albans

On the waters of the Macdonald River, a police search turned recovery. The St Albans community tonight wrapped in sorrow as the bodies of a father and son are pulled ashore, their car plunging at least 10 metres down the embankment just before midnight. It may have hit a tree to start with and then entered the water. A 24-year-old passenger, their son and brother, escaped and swam to the other side of the riverbank where he screamed for help. I think he kind of realised what had happened and he was just groaning with grief, maybe. A walkie-talkie, the only form of communication between neighbours. The 40-minute struggle to get hold of police, then another hour-long wait left residents feeling helpless. I kept trying to say to them that I'm away from the scene. It just added more anxiety and, you know, distress on the whole situation that you couldn't talk to anybody. The wet conditions making today's recovery all the more difficult. The sole focus was on finding the father and son and their vehicle will likely be retrieved another time. Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers or their local police. The tragedy is one of more than 400 SES responses in just 24 hours as erratic weather lashes the state, some parts seeing rainfall three times the August average. Sodden playing fields at Tunks Park in Camaray caved under the pressure. A giant tree brought down power lines and crushed a car at a tarman. A wall of a construction site collapsed onto a Mossman home, a family of seven inside. Flash flooding swallowed one vehicle in Albion Park, another man and his dog rescued from a van in Douglas Park, while New England agricultural heartland turned to a sea of slush in Weewar. This is a big reminder to all of us. We need to stay safe on our roads. If you see flooded causeways or roads, please do not drive through them. Olivia Blunden, 10 News. Samara Gardner is at a pumping parameter weir for us tonight, Samara. These conditions certainly mean emergency services are still well on alert tonight. Sandra, that's certainly the case. You can see just how much water is pumping down the Parramatta River this evening and this scene is not unique as heavy rain soaks the east coast and it's pushing river systems right across the state to the brink and that's what's keeping emergency services on high alert. Just in the last hour, emergency crews scrambled to reports of two people in the water at the Georges River in Chipping North and thankfully it appears that what was actually spotted was some debris floating downstream. That's some good news for emergency services that have certainly been kept on their toes today. They've responded to more than 400 calls for assistance and half a dozen flood rescues and it's not over yet. Really what we're seeing is so much rain over the past two weeks is keeping the ground just so wet and the catchments so full it's not taking much to cause flooding. Here's what the Bureau of Meteorology had to say about the situation today. Whilst the catchments are wet and whilst there is still rain in the system, we have the potential for minor to major flooding and it's not taking a lot to move those rivers into those sort of categories. The rain hasn't stopped yet and there's still a very real risk of flash flooding which is why we are being told to be exceptionally careful on the roads and to of course avoid driving into floodwaters, Sandra. Good advice as always, Samara Gardner there, thank you.

Israel has intensified its assault on Gaza City, launching a new operation to seize it while planning the forced displacement of nearly one million Palestinians to southern zones.

Jerusalem

Middle East Conflict

Israel begins Gaza City operation

A New York appellate court threw out a $527 million penalty in the civil fraud case against President Trump and several others. CBS News' Aaron Navarro reports.

New York

Trump civil fraud case $527 million penalty thrown out

The U.S. and the European Union have locked in a framework trade deal that includes a 15% U.S. tariff on most EU imports, including autos, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors and lumber.

Washington

Global Tariffs

U.S. and EU lock in trade deal

Israel says it began its military operation to take control of Gaza City. This comes after an apparent Hamas attack in Khan Younis targeting Israeli soldiers.

Israel says it began Gaza City expansion

After weeks of pushback from Democrats, House Republicans in Texas have passed controversial legislation to redraw the state's congressional map, giving the GOP an advantage in multiple seats.

Austin

Texas House passes controversial GOP redistricting map

U.S. President Donald Trump’s top-down diplomacy has experts in Ukraine skeptical about whether there has been enough preparation for proposed talks to actually end the war between Russia and Ukraine.

Moscow

Ukraine Invasion

Russia signals more talks needed before Zelenskyy-Putin meeting

The Texas House on Wednesday night passed a controversial, Republican-backed proposal to redraw the state's congressional maps. The bill now moves onto the Texas Senate. CBS News reporter Erica Brown has more.

Texas

Texas House approves GOP congressional redistricting map

Israel's military has called up tens of thousands of reservists in preparation for an expected assault on Gaza City, as the Israeli government considered a new proposal for a ceasefire after nearly two years of war.

Israel calls up 60,000 reservists ahead of Gaza City operation

The Trump administration says it is adding 407 items to the list of "derivative" steel and aluminum products subject to higher tariffs. The list includes products like car parts, household appliances, baby strollers, fire extinguishers and spray deodorants.

Trump expanding steel and aluminum tariffs

NATO military chiefs met virtually Wednesday for what was described as a candid discussion about security guarantees the alliance would be willing to provide to Ukraine in an effort to end Russia's war in the region.

Brussels

NATO chiefs meet virtually about potential Ukraine security guarantees

Israel's military leaders approved the next phase of their ongoing offensive in the territory. The operation will shift focus to Gaza City, targeting areas where Hamas is believed to still be active and where Israeli forces have not yet operated.

Israel approves next phase of Gaza offensive, focus on Gaza City

Despite not making landfall, Hurricane Erin is forcing mandatory evacuation orders in parts of North Carolina and is expected to cause rip currents for days along the U.S. East Coast.

North Carolina

Hurricane Erin forces evacuations on U.S. East Coast

The White House says it is working to secure a meeting between the presidents of Russia and Ukraine, which both have agreed to, while plans continue to create security guarantees for Ukraine.

Trump says no U.S. ground troops will be sent to Ukraine

Hamas has agreed to a ceasefire proposal for Gaza, but mediators are still waiting for an official response from Israel. CBS News contributor Robert Berger has the latest from Jerusalem.

Mediators await Israeli response to Gaza ceasefire proposal

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met China’s top diplomat on Tuesday and hailed the “steady progress” made in improving the bilateral relationship after a yearslong standoff between the nuclear-armed Asian powers.

New Delhi

India's Modi meets China's foreign minister to rebuild ties

Texas Democrats who ended a walkout found themselves shadowed by law enforcement officers to keep them from repeating the protest that stalled Republican efforts to redraw congressional districts and fulfill President Donald Trump's desire to reshape U.S. House maps.

Police escort Texas Democrats to prevent new redistricting walkout

Air Canada has reached a tentative agreement with the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB), ending the strike that began over the weekend involving 10,000 members and disrupted travel for more than 100,000 travelers per day.

Toronto

Air Canada reaches tentative agreement with flight attendant union

Exiled former Hong Kong lawmaker Ted Hui hailed Australia's grant of asylum status as a key acknowledgement of the territory's human rights infringements since its authorities quelled massive pro-democracy protests in 2019.

Hong Kong Island

Ex-Hong Kong lawmaker granted asylum by Australia

Forecasters are giving urgent warnings to millions of people who live along the East Coast as Hurricane Erin churns in the Atlantic. The storm will not make direct landfall but is expected to bring dangerous rip currents.

East Coast of the United States

Hurricane Erin to bring dangerous rip currents to U.S. East Coast

Jasveen Sangha, a Los Angeles woman known as the "Ketamine Queen," has agreed to plead guilty to federal charges in connection with the death of actor Matthew Perry. Sangha could face up to 45 years in prison.

Los Angeles

"Ketamine Queen" to plead guilty in Matthew Perry's death

European leaders who converged on the White House for talks on the Russia-Ukraine war demonstrated a united front regarding Ukraine's security on Monday, underscoring the issue as pivotal for the entire continent, not just Ukraine.

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As Hamas reportedly agreed to some ceasefire terms that would include the return of more hostages, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered troops to take more of Gaza.

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President Donald Trump said that the United States would help Europe in providing security for Ukraine as part of any deal to end Russia's war in Ukraine.

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Bolivia's presidential vote headed to an unprecedented runoff after elections Sunday that ended more than two decades of left-wing dominance in the Andean nation but signaled voters' trepidation about a major lurch to the right.

La Paz

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All Air Canada planes were grounded on Monday (August 18) after its 10,000 flight attendants refused a return-to-work mandate from the Canadian government.

Air Canada delays plans to resume operations

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived at the White House Monday (August 18) for his meeting with President Donald Trump and other European leaders about Russia's war in Ukraine. CBS News White House reporter Taurean Small has more.

Trump meeting with Zelenskiy, European leaders at White House

Hamas on Monday informed mediators that it had accepted a ceasefire deal proposal submitted to it the day before, according to international and Israeli outlets.

Reports: Hamas accepts latest Gaza ceasefire proposal

Hurricane Erin will bring dangerously rough surf to parts of the U.S. East Coast. Over the weekend, Erin's outer bands lashed Puerto Rico with up to 7 inches of rain and flooding parts of the island.

Erin expected to bring dangerous conditions to U.S. East Coast

Ahead of his Monday meeting with President Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymry Zelenksyy says his country will not give up any territory to Russia, even as the White House insists potential land swaps will be necessary. Willie James Inman reports.

Kyiv

Ahead of Trump meeting, Zelenskyy says won't give territory to Russia

Thousands of Israeli protesters demanded a deal to secure the release of hostages still held by Hamas in one of the biggest demonstrations since the war in Gaza began. Debora Patta reports.

Breakdown