Gran, 77, drowns when car plunges into flooded river after major storm hits Northampton

Grandmother Lesley Lee, 77, died when her Fiat Panda went into the River Nene in Northampton on Monday during a heavy storm, as Northamptonshire Police asked for witnesses

Tributes have been shared of a “kind, gentle and lovely” grandmother who drowned this week when her car entered a flooded river during a storm.

Lesley Lee, 77, died when her red Fiat Panda veered off a road in Northampton and into the River Nene on Monday. It is believed her little car could have been in the water for as long as four hours before it was finally seen.

The mum of two was pronounced dead at the scene. Her daughters, Sarah and Nicola, and Lesley’s partner Steve, have released a tribute via Northamptonshire Police. It read: “Lesley was a kind, gentle and lovely lady.

“She was a wonderful mum. She never had a bad word to say about anyone and always saw the best in people. She was nurturing, a lovely person to be around, and always made sure her two girls knew, unequivocally, how much she loved them both.

“She was healthy and looked so good for her age, we thought she’d live to 100. To lose her in this way is devastating and it feels like we have lost a part of ourselves no one can replace.

“As a grandmother, Lesley was brilliant. She always wanted to help in any way she could including picking the children up after school and she was always very generous on birthdays and at Christmas, and always gave them some money to buy themselves a treat on their holidays.

“She was such an exceptional lady - so loved, so deserving of good things, and she will be missed beyond words.”

Officers from Northamptonshire Police have appealed for witnesses to come forward following the tragedy. A spokesman said: “The collision happened sometime between 12.20pm and 4:20pm when, for reasons not yet known, the driver of a red Fiat Panda travelling from the direction of the Barnes Meadow roundabout, went off the road and entered the River Nene. Sadly, the driver - a 77-year-old woman - died at the scene after the vehicle became submerged in the water.

"That stretch of road would have been very busy at that time of day and officers would like to hear from anyone who may have witnessed the incident or who may have CCTV or dash cam footage of the collision."