A boat brought traffic to a standstill on the north’s busiest road yesterday after careering off its trailer and crashing through the central reservation.
Police were called to the unusual accident involving a Sea Otter canal boat on the A9 Perth to Inverness road, near Daviot, at about 1.18pm yesterday.
A holidaymaker from the Oxford area had been towing the vessel north on his way to enjoy a trip on the famous Caledonian Canal.
But just a few miles before reaching Inverness, the boat came off the overturned trailer and landed in the middle of the central reservation, partially blocking both the north and southbound lanes on the dual carriageway.
Speaking at the scene, the boat owner said: “A lorry came past very close which started the boat wobbling, and then I hit a bump which finished it off.”
He added: “The boat hasn’t sustained much damage. Sea Otter make a good boat. Most of the damage is to the inside and the fittings.”
Witnesses said the man appeared shocked and was tended to by police officers at the scene, but did not require any further medical attention.
Police confirmed that no-one was injured in the incident.
The incident caused major disruption on the A9 for several hours throughout the afternoon, with long queues reported several miles back on the road.
A lane initially remained open in both directions but northbound traffic was later halted for a period as the vessel was recovered from the central reservation.
A police spokesman said: “Motorists are advised to expect delays on the A9 south of Inverness after a collision involving a canal boat.
“The boat was being towed on a trailer when it was involved in the incident near Daviot at about 1.18pm.
“Nobody was injured and one lane is now open in each direction.
“However, road users are advised to expect disruption in the area as recovery is expected to take some time.”
