Taxi accident “” water hydrant gusher detoured traffic Saturday

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A taxi driver struck a fire hydrant after he lost control of his van when he slammed on his brakes to avoid a vehicle that stopped suddenly Saturday afternoon about 4:30 pm. Police detoured drivers around the scene of the accident at the intersection of West Tisbury Road and Club House Lane in Edgartown.

Kendrick Burke, a driver for Adam Cab, was driving inbound in a green, Ford van with no passengers onboard when, he told police, a female operator in a blue Honda Civic stopped short to take a left into the Vineyard Golf Club.

Mr. Burke hit his brakes, skidded across the roadway, and lost control of the van. He crossed the bike path and plowed into the woods striking a fire hydrant and a tree, according to a police report. The broken hydrant created a flood of water. Mr. Burke was unhurt.

Member of the Edgartown police, fire department, ambulance service, water department and Mass Highway responded. Water was temporarily shut off to nearby homes and businesses. A tree company arrived to remove a large tree deemed a hazard.

Police found a 15- to 20-yard stretch of skid marks where Mr. Burke, who was not cited, said he hit his brakes, according to the report. Police searched but the Honda Civic, which left the scene of the accident, could not be located.