An Edgartown man and a West Tisbury man are recovering following a head-on collision on Beach Road midway between Little Bridge and Big Bridge about 2:30 pm Monday afternoon that closed down the road while emergency personnel attended to the accident.
Gordon Bates, 82, of Edgartown told police he blacked out behind the wheel of his 2008 white Ford Escape and did not remember swerving into the oncoming lane, where he struck a 2009 Subaru Forester operated by Donald Welles, 50, of West Tisbury.
Oak Bluffs police officer Ben Ford was parked on Beach Road on a routine traffic watch and witnessed the accident unfold after Mr. Bates drove past his parked patrol car at a speed he estimated to be about 50 miles per hour in the direction of Oak Bluffs, according to his police report.
Officer Ford drove after Mr. Bates and confirmed his speed was 52 mph. He continued to follow Mr. Bates to conduct a motor vehicle stop, when Mr. Bates sped up to 60 mph, Lieutenant Tim Williamson said, swerved to the right, and then jerked to the left, struck the vehicle operated by Mr. Welles head-on and went through a wooden guardrail.
Both men exited their vehicles. Mr. Welles told emergency responders he was uninjured, according to the police report. Mr. Bates also said he was not injured.
Mr. Bates told police “he had blacked out and was unaware he had even been in a crash,” according to the police report.
“The middle of the day, and all of a sudden somebody just comes into your lane,” Lieutenant Williamson said. “Wear your seat belt and drive defensively, because you just never know.”
Both men were transported to Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. Mr. Bates was later transported by MedFlight to Mass General Hospital where he is recovering from his injuries. Mr. Welles is home, feeling bruised and battered from the accident but otherwise fine.
Mr. Welles told The Times he saw the officer behind the other vehicle and was slowing down and pulling to the side of the road when Mr. Bates veered across the center line. “I was going about 10, 15 miles per hour and that certainly helped,” he said.
Mr. Welles said he was only out of his car for a few minutes before help arrived. “Before I knew it, I looked around and everybody was there. I was very impressed,” he said. “A definite thumbs up to the emergency crews — and a thumbs up to Subaru. My thoughts are with Mr. Bates for a speedy recovery.”
Both men were wearing seat belts. “Another case of seat belts save,” State Police officer Dave Parent told The Times.
State Police issued Mr. Bates a citation for speeding and a marked lanes violation. Police also determined that Mr. Bates was “an immediate threat,” a designation that allows police to immediately suspend an individual’s license, most often due to a medical condition. He has the right to a hearing to appeal the suspension.
“The middle of the day, and all of a sudden somebody just comes into your lane,” Lieutenant Williamson said. “Wear your seat belt and drive defensively, because you just never know.”
