Moped death mars 4th
New York woman was here on vacation
By Aubrey Gibavic - July 6, 2006
Zeljka Matutinovic, a venture capitalist from New York City, died Sunday when the moped she was operating crashed into a utility pole near Deep Bottom Pond in West Tisbury. Her passenger, Josko Silobrcic, 46, of Swampscott, was seriously injured.
Ms. Matutinovic, 41, a native of Croatia, became a United States citizen just months before traveling to Martha's Vineyard with her boyfriend for a holiday weekend getaway, according to Diana Larson of New York City, a close friend who was left devastated by the news. "She was just in my wedding a few weeks ago," said Ms. Larson. "She had hundreds of friends all over the world."
Zeljka Matutinovic and Josko Silobrcic pose at their friend Diana Larson's wedding last month in New York City. Photo courtesy of Diana Larson
Ms. Matutinovic was driving up-Island with Mr. Silobrcic when their moped veered off Edgartown-West Tisbury Road, according to West Tisbury Police Chief Beth Toomey. Chief Toomey said officers spoke with a witness who "saw them go off the road out of the corner of their eye. That is why we are able to say there were no other cars or anything around."
Ms. Matutinovic was pronounced dead at Martha's Vineyard Hospital shortly after the 2:30 pm crash, and Mr. Silobrcic was flown to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. Yesterday he was in the trauma unit under intensive care.
Edgartown, Chilmark and Massachusetts State Police assisted at the scene.
The moped was rented from Sun 'n Fun in Oak Bluffs. Owner Don Gregory said in the 28 years he has rented scooters there has never been a fatality.
"People keep saying 'it's not your fault,' but I keep feeling that if I didn't rent it to her, she wouldn't be dead," Mr. Gregory said.
Ms. Larson said that Ms. Matutinovic came to the United States in 1989 and received her PhD in engineering from Princeton University. In addition to being a successful businesswoman, Ms. Larson said her friend was athletic and enjoyed skiing, sailing, and biking.
Ms. Matutinovic also took pleasure in opera and art. She had been dating Mr. Silobrcic, a medical consultant, for some time. Ms. Larson said that Mr. Silobrcic had visited the Island before and wanted to bring Ms. Matutinovic for the weekend.
"Zeljka was a brilliant and beautiful person, and a loving and kind friend," Ms. Larson wrote in an e-mail Tuesday to The Times. "She will be sorely missed by the many people whose lives she touched. She loved life, and should have had more of it."
