Updated 2 pm, Friday
Lewis Colby, the driver of a John Keene Excavation company dump truck involved in a roll over accident Thursday afternoon was released from the hospital and is “on the mend,” company manager Joe Eldeiry told The Times. Mr. Colby was battered and bruised and suffered a concussion, but suffered no broken bones.
Mr. Eldeiry said Mr. Colby swerved to avoid a vehicle that pulled out in front of his path and his quick reaction likely avoided a catastrophic accident.
Mr. Colby was traveling north on State Road when he swerved to avoid colliding with a red SUV that had just turned right onto State Road from Scotchman’s Bridge Lane at the four-way intersection opposite Panhandle Road by the Ag Hall, West Tisbury Police Detective Matt Gebo said.
Mr. Colby was transported to Martha’s Vineyard Hospital and later transported to Boston as a precaution.
The accident occurred about 3:30 pm, Thursday afternoon and snarled traffic in both directions.
It took a collective effort to clean up the sand and remove the truck, Detective Gebo said. West Tisbury firefighters, a front end loader and crew from John Keene, and Vincent Maciel of Maciel Tree and Land assisted in the effort.
“What a great community effort,” Mr. Eldeiry said. “We had the truck righted and the site cleaned up by 5:30 pm.”
Company owner John Keene had just boarded a ferry for the start of a family vacation when the accident occurred. He returned on the next ferry to check on Mr. Colby.
