Barrie PD Zodiac Hits Pavement

The US Coast Guard stresses trailering safety to its officers for good reason. This story from Canada is a prime example of why not only the boat, but its trailer and associated towing vehicle need to be inspected prior to ever pulling onto the street.

For the second time in less than a year, the Barrie Police Department’s 21-foot long inflatable pontoon boat has been damaged, this time falling off its trailer. It flopped onto the intersection of Cundles Road and Livingstone Street West around 8:30 a.m. No vehicles were struck and no one was injured. Police say the front tether strap on the trailer broke and the rear safety straps released, causing the boat to fall off while being towed.

“There is an investigation going on. The accident investigators will be looking into how it happened,” Const. Rob Adam said. The extent of the boat’s damage is being investigated.

Officers were preparing to begin the boat’s summer duties on Wednesday, Adam said. “They were on their way to put it in the lake at the Barrie Marina for the summer season.” But the craft never made it there.

The marine unit’s previous Zodiac was written off in September 2009 after an incident involving the force’s larger 27- foot steel Stanley boat. The larger boat, worth $175,000 equipped, was badly damaged and was replaced through insurance.

Barrie Examiner