A moped operator was seriously injured Friday afternoon after losing control and crashing near the seawall in Oak Bluffs.
A moped operator was seriously injured Friday afternoon after losing control and crashing near the seawall in Oak Bluffs.
The incident occurred shortly before 2:30 p.m. Friday afternoon and involved a single moped with two passengers, according to Oak Bluffs fire and EMS chief Nelson Wirtz. No other vehicles were involved in the incident.
Both passengers sustained injuries and were transported to the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital in separate ambulances.
“The driver of the moped lost control,” Chief Wirtz said. “The driver sustained some serious, significant injuries.”
Chief Wirtz said the driver, a male, was “moderately responsive” and answering questions at the scene. The passenger sustained minor injuries and was responsive, Chief Wirtz said.
In a follow-up voicemail message Friday, Chief Wirtz said that the driver was receving sutures and should survive.
"Thank goodness," Chief Wirtz said.
Oak Bluffs fire and EMS responded, along with police. Police were not immediately available for comment.
In an email Friday afternoon, hospital spokesman Marissa Lefebvre confirmed that two patients involved in the crash had been transported to the hospital.
“Both patients are in fair condition and are currently being treated,” Ms. Lefebvre said.
The moped was also badly damaged, Mr. Wirtz confirmed.
After a slew of traffic incidents and injuries in 2017 and 2018, the town of Oak Bluffs severely limited the rental of mopeds in the town and filed a home rule petition to ban their rental. The bill has languished at the statehouse, however, with Island moped vendors voicing opposition at a hearing before the joint committee on transportation prior to the pandemic.
Hired in early May, Chief Wirtz began duties running the Oak Bluffs fire and EMS departments on May 24. He said the moped incident was his first EMS call on the job.
“It’s been great,” Chief Wirtz said of early interactions with his peers. “I am always astounded at the dedication and professionalism of both the EMS and call personnel who drop everything to come to help. It’s absolutely amazing.”
Comments
Any vehicle that cannot
Local EsgartownAny vehicle that cannot safely drive the highest speed limit on the island while having the max number of passengers allowed in or on that vehicle should not be allowed on the roads.
Well, there's no way we could
Rena Vine Oak BluffsWell, there's no way we could have seen this coming or taken any action to prevent such an accident.
Moped rental fees = Blood
T Bone Oak BluffsMoped rental fees = Blood money
How many more people have to
R Scott Patterson Edgartown .How many more people have to get maimed and killed by the greed of the few people renting mopeds to these unaware tourists? Its a joke! As a motorcycle rider who had to pass a written test then an actual road test to get a license to ride it is beyond comprehension that anyone with a drivers license can rent a moped and head out on the roads with zero training wearing flip flops, shorts and a t-shirt! It is ridiculous on every level.
Well said and right on point.
jane V EdgartownWell said and right on point.
You are so very right -
Phyllis Oak bluffsYou are so very right - couldn't agree more
They also shouldn't let new
JT MVThey also shouldn't let new riders take their FIRST test run up Pasque Ave, then in front of The Lookout Tavern, then back down Oak Bluffs Ave. and back to the shop. Utterly ridiculous.
If you don't have the space to test new riders, you shouldn't be able to rent mopeds out.
They had their chance to stop this last time it came up, but as we know $$$ comes before safety on the rock.
I am sorry for the injured
Lorraine EdgartownI am sorry for the injured people, but the moped is not at fault. The PEOPLE are. How about banning people? How about banning cars when over 30 thousand people a year are killed in vehicles? This idea that inanimate objects should be blamed for the mistakes of PEOPLE is ludicrous. I no longer ride my bicycle to do errands in the summer months due to vehicle traffic and the very bad driving of people on the island in the summer. No one wants to ban motor vehicles, but many of us no longer go to collect mail, shop at the shops, etc., as it is now dangerous for bicycle riders on the island due to vehicles and it is particularly bad in Edgartown village with the hedges, etc., and close buildings. Yet, no one wishes to address that issue. Again, I am very sorry people are injured, no one with any heart wishes that, and I wish them a full recovery.
Two seperate things. Mopeds
RT Vineyard HavenTwo seperate things. Mopeds are slow, and do not belong on the narrow and winding road ridden by inexperienced, and often first time riders. Bicycles need bike lanes, and what is annoying is seeing bicyclists riding on roads when wide bike paths are just beside them as is the case along State beach. Lastly, bicyclists deserve safe lanes heading up island, but alas, the Chilmark crown has that NIMBY attitude.
I agree about riding the
Bob EdgartownI agree about riding the bicycle and the other new disaster waiting to escalate is the increased number of electric bikes on bike paths. Only a matter of time before we have serious collisions as some of those electric bikes are almost as fast as a moped. And these people have no more control over them. All electric bike should be banned from the bike paths.
Oh, Lorraine, Such a weak
T Bone Oak BluffsOh, Lorraine, Such a weak set of arguments, and you miss the fundamental issue with a day rental of a moped, typically by a driver that's never been on one. You have to take an eye, written AND a driving test to get a license to drive a car. And a bicycle doesn't go 30 mph, and doesn't usually have a passenger clinging to the back of the driver. Yet for a moped, a motorized road vehicle? No license, just a 2 minute ride around the block near the Look Out, and then hit the sandy and winding roads of the island at 25-30 mph. I for one am glad the Memorial Day rental scene is a rain out.
Lorraine, I am going to
Mr B ChilmarkLorraine, I am going to differ with you on this one. First, I think that the "inanimate objects" are to blame to some degree, simply because they are poorly designed for the purpose that they are rented for. They cannot keep up with and impede traffic; their center of gravity is so high that they are prone to being tippy; their tiny wheels make them wobbly, and they provide absolutely no protection to their operators in case of a mishap. They define "Unsafe at Any Speed." That said, I will agree with you that people are also part of the problem--and while the people should not be banned, their ability to rent the dangerous object should be. Mopeds, to me, meet the definition of an "attractive nuisance." And all it will take to be rid of them will be the enormous lawsuit that is eventually brought against one of the towns for negligence: they knew that these items were dangerous, there was a clear history of the danger, and when given the opportunity to ban the use of them or to inform the users of these thoroughly documented dangers, they held back. The suit may not prevail, but the cost to the town to defend itself will be.
While they are indeed both
August West EdgartownWhile they are indeed both inanimate objects there's a vast difference between driving a car, which most of us have proven we can handle safely most of the time, and a renting a moped for the day with no real training and riding on the same crowded roads. People are going to continue getting injured and killed until we stop it.
The moped vendors appear to
Enough is enough OBThe moped vendors appear to be using a large portion of public property to run their business, we don't need a new law, just get them off of property they should not be using in the first place. The mopeds are staged on an area that would be far better utilized as an improved sidewalk. Survey the property and keep the business on its own land (you may very well find a portion of the building is also on public land). Use public property for the public good. Private usurping of public property is a problem in many places in OB, time to take a closer look at a lot of properties.
A helpful addition to the
Zeb AquinnahA helpful addition to the article would include the number of injuries sustained in car crashes on the island, which typically kill nearly 60,000 people per year nationally and a terrible number of pedestrians, cyclists, and -- probably -- moped riders. The fact that someone was injured, either from driver error or something else, is not itself helpful data in deciding the merits of the particular form of transportation -- unless we want to eliminate all risk, which, of course, would mean banning cars.
Not to minimize car and all
Enough is enough OBNot to minimize car and all other road safety because it is indeed a problem but these motorized vehicles that do not require training or a license is a different problem and a solvable one. We are not renting cars to people who have never driven one.
All worship Lorraine, people
Abby Normal The RockAll worship Lorraine, people are responsible for their own actions. What a concept.
Mopeds arent completely safe
Ken Edg.Mopeds arent completely safe for one rider, how do expect them to be safe for two. Single rider mopeds are the answer.
Right back at it
Tom Cole TisburyRight back at it
Mopeds are a hazard: To
MDW EdgartownMopeds are a hazard: To motorists who are forced to circumnavigate these slower-moving vehicles on our busy, narrow roads; to pedestrians whose right of way at street crossings is disregarded by operators who are loath to stop; by bike path users who (like me) have been forced to jump out of the way by scofflaws who detour onto these pathways in an effort to bypass long lines at four-way stops such as at Clevelandtown Road, and by inexperienced yet doubled-up riders. I'm all for summertime vacation fun. This, however, is not that.
Just get rid of them already.
Ma BJust get rid of them already. They're nothing but motorized little death traps.
Mopeds add nothing to the
Debbie OBMopeds add nothing to the Vineyard experience. It's just a couple of guys renting them, chasing the almighty buck.
Some years ago, in my 40’s I
Mary Papenfoth Voluntown, CTSome years ago, in my 40’s I traveled to Block Is. (I know different island) and thought I would like to try a moped. After a five min. parking lot lesson I was deemed fit for the road. I, however, realized I did not belong on a moped with this minimal training and rented a bicycle instead. Mopeds may have their place but not with inexperienced riders on narrow tourist crowded roadways. Not safe for anyone involved. Maybe motor assist bicycles?
An electric bike quietly
MarieAn electric bike quietly passed me on the bike path today. The young man (boy) was moving at a very fast pace.
When the bike paths get busier these electric bikes will be more dangerous. Are they even allowed on the bike paths?
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