Saturday, 10:30 am
West Tisbury Police Detective Matt Gebo said Robert Schwartz, 90, of West Tisbury “was found at fault” in a truck rollover accident about 3:30 pm, Thursday that sent the driver of a John Keene Excavation Company dump truck to the hospital.
Lewis Colby, the driver of the truck, was released from the hospital and is “on the mend,” Keene company manager Joe Eldeiry told The Times Friday. Mr. Colby was battered and bruised and suffered a concussion, but no broken bones.
Mr. Schwartz, who was traveling with his wife, was at the wheel of a 2005 Toyota Highlander when he turned right onto State Road from Scotchman’s Bridge Lane at the four-way intersection opposite Panhandle Road by the Ag Hall in West Tisbury and failed to stop at a stop sign, Detective Gebo said.
Mr. Colby was traveling north on State Road and swerved to avoid colliding with Mr. Schwartz. Detective Gebo credited Mr. Coby’s quick reflexes with avoiding a much more serious accident.
Mr. Colby had just picked up a full load of sand at Goodale’s in Oak Bluffs. The truck rolled over when he swerved to avoid the red SUV trapping him inside. Police, fire and EMT first responders rushed to the scene and the road was closed in both directions.
Mr. Colby was transported to Martha’s Vineyard Hospital and later transported to Boston as a precaution.
Mr. Eldeiry said Mr. Colby’s quick reaction likely avoided a catastrophic accident.
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.