Thursday, August 20, 2009

Speedboat and trailer become detached from moving pickup on Ben Maddox Way


Speedboat and trailer become detached from moving pickup on Ben Maddox Way - destroying a sign, clipping bushes and slamming into utility pole

BY GERALD CARROLL / gcarroll@visalia.gannett.com • August 19, 2009

An orange speedboat, which had just been picked up from the repair shop, and its trailer became detached from a moving pickup truck just before 6 p.m. Wednesday and slid more than 180 yards on southbound Ben Maddox Way near Laura Avenue, witnesses reported.

No injuries were reported. Visalia police did not disclose any further details.

Pickup driver and boat owner Aaron Ernst said he was driving south on Ben Maddox when his truck hit a “dip” in the road at the Laura Avenue intersection. The dip caused a sharp movement of the trailer hitch, and the trailer and boat snapped off the rear of the pickup.

“It [trailer] came beside me, to the right of the truck,” Ernst said. “It was like one of those slow-motion, dreamlike things you know you can’t stop.”

While the boat flew off separately, and sustained minor damage, the trailer wasn’t so fortunate. It skidded 120 yards along the right-side curb before crushing a street sign and shearing twigs and leaves off a dozen roadside bushes.

The trailer finally came to rest after sliding 40 more yards when its right fender struck a utility pole — denting the fender and knocking off one of two tires on that side.

Despite the damage, the trailer and boat were reassembled and driven off after Visalia police filed a report.


8/20/2009 12:56:53 PM

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RonMelancon wrote:
Here is our press release and please go here to view a solution if this person would have used this product then the trailer would not have come off.. www.safetysentryinc.com

Ron J. Melancon President
www.dangeroustrailers.org
8898 Castle Point Drive
Glen Allen, VA 23060

Dear Concerned:

We have just released our press release regarding 2008 figures. Please go to
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2009/07/prweb2339064.htm to view the report.

Our organization is grateful of the continued interest in "Passenger Cars That Tow Trailers"
segment. Please go to www.dangeroustrailers.org for more updates.

Sincerely,


Ron J. Melancon
8/20/2009 12:49:14 PM
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RonMelancon wrote:
When you get a moment please go to www.dangeroustrailers.org, Please note that no regulations are in place for these types of trailers. School starts in a few weeks... what if this hit a Car, Police or a School Bus?

It already has in your STATE!!! Please go here to view some of the accidents in your state..
http://www.dangeroustrailers.org/Accidents_In_California.html

In your State Since 1975 1,706 lives have been lost.... just a few weeks ago.. your state had a loose camper trailer..., horse trailer and a few other accidents involving "Passenger Cars That Tow Trailers"

In fact we have 8 states that do not require safety chains. So what do we do to address???

We enacted a law in Virginia that requires DOT type c-2 tape to at least go on the back of these trailers because they don't have working lights.... most of the time.

U Haul and Carry on trailers along with the Utilty Trailer industry has spent over 100,000 trying to undo the law because it cost $10 to do it.
8/20/2009 12:47:47 PM
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meems57 wrote:
Had that happen to me. At least nobody was hurt.
8/19/2009 9:04:28 PM
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mojowoman wrote:
Bummer
8/19/2009 8:31:20 PM
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noname01972 wrote:
This was my neghibor and my husband was out there to help him get his boat back on the trailer. There were safety chains and they snapped. This was a freaky thing. At least no one was hurt. It could have been much worse. Beautiful boat though.
8/19/2009 7:56:48 PM
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rotoman61 wrote:
I saw the aftermath of this accident......it was like one of those cartoon films. Sorry but had to chuckle.
8/19/2009 7:38:02 PM
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mycatfossy wrote:
where was the safety chain in all this?????
8/19/2009 7:23:35

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