Updated 5 pm, Thursday
A husband and wife from Roslindale were seriously injured Wednesday when their rental moped slammed into a VTA bus near the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital.
The head-on crash happened at around 5:10 pm at the corner of Eastville Avenue and Beach Road. An initial investigation indicates the moped lost control attempting to negotiate the corner, crossed the centerline of the road, and struck the bus head on, according to Oak Bluffs police.
The driver of the moped was Ruben Inoa-Rodriguez, age 42. As of this morning he was in stable condition at Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. The passenger was Altagracia Melo, age 46. She underwent surgery after being airlifted by MedFlight to Beth Israel Hospital in Boston. She is listed in fair condition, and is expected to be discharged early next week
The bus windshield was smashed in the crash, but neither the bus driver nor the six passengers onboard were injured in the crash.
It’s the second moped crash on the Island in the past few days, though the one on Monday did not involve a rental.
The moped was rented from Adventure Rentals on Beach Road in Vineyard Haven, Oak Bluffs Police Lt. Timothy Williamson said. Tisbury selectmen are scheduled to renew their discussion of moped regulations on Tuesday.
There was a third accident on June 15th in Edgartown. “The mopeds had been rented from Island Hoppers in Oak Bluffs, police said, and the company was called to come pick up the vehicles.” That makes three serious moped accidents in less than one month. Island Hopper and Adventure Rentals. All accidents occurred in areas known to be unsafe for mopeds. History repeats. https://vineyardgazette.com/news/2017/06/15/woman-hospitalized-after-moped-accident
Enough is enough. It’s only the first week in July and several people have already been injured in moped accidents. How much more mutilation will it take to put human safety and life before profit?