A truck carrying three men and three women on a Martha’s Vineyard visit overturned and rolled, coming to rest on the sea wall along Sea View Avenue in Oak Bluffs, about 6:15 pm, Saturday. Three passengers were injured, one seriously, in the dramatic, single vehicle accident.
Police arrested the driver, Christopher Melnik, 32, of Holyoke, for operating under the influence and causing serious bodily injury, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, marked lane violation, and speeding.
Mr. Melnik was behind the wheel of his F-350 Ford truck, carrying five passengers, and leaving Oak Bluffs and driving toward Edgartown at a high rate of speed, police said. Mr. Melnik failed to negotiate a bend in Sea View Avenue and lost control of his vehicle. The truck rolled three times before coming to rest on the seawall in the vicinity of the Farm Pond culvert, according to Oak Bluffs police officer Jeff Trudel.
Police did not identify a seriously injured 32-year-old woman from Fairhaven. She was transported by ambulance to Mass. General Hospital. Med Flight was unavailable due to heavy rains and wind.
A 33-year-old woman from Fairhaven and a 43-year-old woman from Holyoke were transported to Martha’s Vineyard Hospital and admitted for observation overnight.
Officer Trudel said that when he arrived at the scene of the accident, three people were out of the vehicle and three people were still inside.
Police arrested Mr. Melnik at Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. He was released on $600 bail after a bail commissioner came to the hospital to set the bail.
June 13: This article has been revised from an earlier version that included the incorrect bail amount.
