Tisbury taxi takes out Thai restaurant storefront in Oak Bluffs

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The Bangkok Thai Cuisine restaurant received some temporary repairs after a Tisbury taxi van slammed into it. — Photo by Jamie Stringfellow

Shortly after 4 am on Tuesday July 30, Jurgen Kolvani, of Oak Bluffs, crashed a 15 passenger Tisbury Taxi van into the Bangkok Thai Cuisine restaurant, at 67 Circuit Av., Oak Bluffs, causing considerable damage to the restaurant storefront and to the van.

According to the arrest report, when Officer Seth Harlow arrived on the scene, he found Mr. Kolvani asleep in the back seat. It took Officer Harlow several attempts to wake Mr. Kolvani, who said the accelerator had stuck and caused him to lose control of the vehicle. Mr. Kolvani said he had called 911 but no one answered so he went to sleep. A later check of Mr. Kolvani’s phone showed he hadn’t called 911.

Officer Harlow wrote in the arrest report that he noticed “a very strong odor of alcoholic beverage” on Mr. Kolvani.

Rheumy eyed and unsteady on his feet, Mr. Kolvani denied, with slurred speech, that he had been drinking.

Arriving EMT’s put Mr. Kolvani in a cervical collar and took him to Martha’s Vineyard hospital, where police noted he was “uncooperative and verbally abusive” to hospital staff. After Mr. Kolvani was read his Miranda Rights he refused to sign a Statutory Rights and Consent form and he refused to submit to a BAC blood test.

Once Mr. Kolvani was medically cleared, officers transported him to the Dukes County House of Correction, where he was formally charged with OUI, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, and a marked lanes violation. His license is suspended for 180 days for refusing a chemical test.

Police contacted Tisbury Taxi owner Chris Dacunto, who said the taxi was not on duty, and that he allows employees to take taxis home after the bar close shift.

Firemen had to shore up the front wall of the restaurant before removing the van from the scene. Police estimate the damage to the restaurant is approximately $5,000.

Restaurant owner Somsak “Sam” Sangworn could not be reached for comment.