Can’t park there, mate! Shocked ferry passengers spot police car dangling from pier
A police car crashed through the railings at Ryde Pier on the Isle of Wight while officers were responding to an incident, leaving its front end hanging over the sea. Two officers were helped out by firefighters, and no injuries were reported; the crash disrupted ferry services and prompted checks on the pier’s safety.
The collision happened shortly before 10.10am on Tuesday, on the pier road with a 10mph limit. Police said officers were making urgent enquiries into an indecent exposure report in Newport; a 29-year-old man was later arrested on suspicion of exposure. The car was lifted clear at about 3pm, and FastCat services resumed at 4.15pm after roughly six hours of suspension.
- A police car crashed through Ryde Pier railings and dangled over the sea.
- Two officers were helped out; no injuries were reported.
- FastCat ferries resumed after about six hours.
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Ryde Pier is a long Victorian pier on the Isle of Wight, linking the town of Ryde with ferry services across the Solent. Its road and walkway are used by local traffic and passengers travelling between the island and the mainland.
The Isle of Wight Police respond to reports of crime across the island, including in Newport, its largest town. An indecent exposure report concerns an allegation that someone deliberately exposed themselves; an arrest on suspicion is not a finding of guilt. The pier is also an important route for FastCat passenger ferries, so disruption can affect journeys between the island and Portsmouth.