Another GPS blunder takes semi onto New Jersey boardwalk

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In another driver vs. GPS moment, chalk up another victory to GPS for convincing a driver to take his semi today onto the boardwalk in Ventnor, N.J.

The CRST driver told Ventnor police that he had simply been following directions on his GPS when he drove onto the boardwalk at Atlantic City and got stuck roughly three miles away while trying to turn onto Washington Street.

The driver damaged about 100 feet of boardwalk railings while trying to make the tight turn. A more thorough assessment will determine other possible damage. (Video posted below.)

“It is something that I haven’t seen in my 31 years,” Ventnor Police Chief Doug Biagi told nj.com. “We have seen vehicles up there. We have seen vehicles crashed up there. I have never seen an 18-wheeler that had to be about 80 feet long.”

It took nearly four hours and plenty of city workers to remove railings and backfill an area under the boardwalk with sand so that the truck could make the turn. The trailer was separated from the tractor and a tow truck was used to remove the trailer.

Police do not believe alcohol or drugs were a factor. The driver, according to nj.com, was issued “a couple of summons, primarily for driving off-road.”

Two months ago a building supply truck made the same mistake of driving onto the boardwalk. It’s unclear if that driver had been following GPS.