Oak Bluffs EMS at the scene Saturday.
Mark Lovewell

Moped Accident on Barnes Road Leaves Two With Serious Injuries

Sara Brown
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<p>Two young New Hampshire women riding a rented moped sustained serious injuries after hitting a dump truck on Barnes Road early Saturday afternoon. Both are recovering.</p>

The two young New Hampshire women who sustained serious injuries in a moped accident on the Vineyard Saturday are both recovering.

Both are division one lacrosse players at the University of Massachusetts at Lowell, according to the university website.

Noelle Lambert, 19, of Manchester, N.H., lost her leg in the accident when the moped she was operating hit a dump truck on Barnes Road. Her passenger on the moped, Kelly Moran, 19, of Newfields, N.H., was also injured although less seriously.

Ms. Lambert was airlifted to the Boston Medical Center shortly after the accident early Saturday afternoon. Late Monday afternoon, she was listed in fair condition.

Ms. Moran was rushed into surgery at the Martha's Vineyard Hospital Saturday. A report on her condition was not available from the Vineyard hospital on Monday, although on Sunday Oak Bluffs police said she was recovering and doing well.

Both women are listed as members of the women's lacrosse team at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, a division one school. According to the school website, Ms. Lambert is an attacker and Ms. Moran a midfielder. Both were named to the America East All-Rookie team this year.

Oak Bluffs police, fire and EMS were called to the scene on Barnes Road at around 12:35 p.m. Saturday after the moped being operated by Ms. Lambert and Ms. Moran hit the dump truck, near the entrance to the youth tennis center just off the roundabout. Sgt. Steven Conley told the Gazette Sunday said an investigation into the cause of the crash found the moped, traveling south on Barnes Road, had moved too far to the right toward the shoulder of the road, then over corrected and moved too far to the left, colliding with the truck.

The operator of the truck was Augustus (Brant) Ben David of West Tisbury. Mr. Ben David was not injured and no citations have been issued, police said.

“For Mr. Ben David this is just an unfortunate circumstance, and obviously for the women as well,” Sergeant Conley said.

The two women were visiting the Island and had rented the moped from Ride On rentals in Oak Bluffs, police said.

Both women were stabilized at the scene, Oak Bluffs fire chief John Rose said.

A portion of Barnes Road was closed for a time following the accident. Edgartown police assisted with traffic control during the response.

Comments

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 15:53

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Allouise Morgan

Prayers for a full and quick recovery...
Please be careful out there, it is out of control!
Once again, "Thank you" to our Island emergency personnel.
You are all amazing!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 16:18

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Helene Brown Vineyard Haven

Ban mopeds on MV. Too many have died or have been seriously injured by this utter nonsense. Vineyard roads and traffic this time of year are not compatible with type of vehicle.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 17:18

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Art OB

Mopeds are vehicles under Mass law. You can't ban them from public ways. Just ask WT they tried it years ago and it was denied by the AG.

Jane Newman Edgartown, Ma

I have heard this argument for too many years. Laws can be changed. How many deaths or permanent injuries will it have to be before things can change?

SteveF Chilmark

You can't ban mopeds, but as far as we know tourists don't bring their own mopeds over here to ride around. Banning moped rentals would be legal, and stop these yearly tragedies while freeing up our roads.

CAPT E Chappy

Don't know how many rental moped operators I have seen with flip flops this year - and the town regulations say they have to rent only to covered foot drivers!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 08/02/2016 - 08:11

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Chris Kende Edgartown

Absolutely get rid of them. At least limit them to one passenger each. Have you seen how unstable they are with 350 pounds riding on them? They are time bombs on two wheels.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 17:52

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Heavyhearted MV

Our thoughts are with these victims and their families. It was a very serious accident. In the hopes of preventing future needless loss of life and limb, I would suggest closing down the moped rental businesses. West Tisbury may not have been successful in banning mopeds, and indeed they may be fully legal under current law. However, we do not need to allow the businesses. And they need not be grandfathered. The MVC may be dear to your heart or top of your bad guys list. Nobody argues their statutory power is immense. Unlike zoning changes that would create a pre existing non conforming use...and grandfather these businesses...a change to DCPC regulations could shut them down for good. Or perhaps it is as simple as not renewing business licenses. I don't know a lot about this stuff but a few hundred bucks of a lawyers time or a pro bono lawyer with the will to save lives could get this in front of town meetings and stop the tragedies. Again, love and prayers to families and victims.

Benson Family

Were you there? One of the females is a relative of mine . Despite the horrific injury, the good news is both girls are going to live. Please send prayers.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 18:04

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mary worrell vineyard haven

I remember a doctor friend from Mass General who came to the Vineyard years ago to help out at MV hospital. He said that the moped accidents created a situation like A "WAR ZONE". When are we going to do the right thing and ban them?

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 18:04

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Rich Edgartown

Ban cars by visitors just like Bermuda
Same size island,similar population
Only residents are allowed cars, visitors use bus,taxis,bike or mopeds

Marie

How would visitors get around? Mass transit is not the greatest. Try visiting the land bank properties by bus. It could take all day.

I saw a golf cart on the road this week. If they are street legal I would use one for travels around Edgartown.

It sounds like the truck may have pulled out in front of the moped. The women on the moped may have been operating safely. I lost a friend on a motorcycle earlier this year when a car pulled in front of him.

Heavyhearted MV

Marie, some visitors might not get around. Or perhaps public transportation could be improved here. There seems to be an overwhelming sense of "must" on this Island. We must make it affordable to visit here, eat here, stay here. We must keep the tourist dollars flowing. Some of us feel like we must not allow incredibly dangerous behavior here, even if it means some people may not get to enjoy the Island right now. I really do hope we improve public transit, so everybody, from every walk of life can enjoy their time here. Until then, I think we should ban moped rental businesses. This is no time to argue. Let us pray for safety and accessibility.

Debbie Edgartown

Rich, I couldn't agree with you more. I woukd like to see only visitors coming for a minimum of 2 weeks shoukd allowed to bring their vehicles.

Art OB

How can you compare Bermuda to MV? Bermuda is a British territory regulated by the UK. We can't ban cars,mopeds or bikes from public ways. I sometimes wish we could too but we can't.

Chris OB

That makes no sense. I love how we are so quick to ruin the one livelihood that we have, "tourism." I got news for you, the island is not as special as you think, there are plenty of places for people to go. Without seasonal owners or tourists we would be dead.

Slater MV

Without seasonal owners or tourists we would survive just as we did for thousands of years before they showed up. Those of us that can think for ourselves that is. Then again, most of us have already left.

Scott Ryan New Jersey

Glad the young women will recover. Mr. Rich, your logic escapes me. The truck involved in the crash belongs to a Vineyard resident and the young women were on a moped which you seem to think are safe. Banning cars for visitors would have had absolutely NO impact on this horrific accident. I have driven the winding, hilly roads there and can't see how anyone thinks mopeds are OK. Come on now!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 18:09

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Jeanne Oak Bluffs

Ban Mopeds

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 18:19

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Kevin FitzGerald Aquinah

Is it possible to make a regulation that anyone renting a moped need a motorcycle endorsement on their license ? This will keep those with no two wheel skills from injuring themselves, as I suspect these victims were.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 18:27

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Wendy WT

So sad, another moped accident. Those poor girls.
They really should require a motorcycle license to operate them. I don't know how the moped rental people can sleep at night knowing how many vacationers get injured on these things.

Jack

They sleep very well. They provide a legal service. In my 15 years out on the island I have witnessed over 20 "don't look too close accidents". It's up to us to change.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 19:01

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Mike MV

All of you saying ban mopeds. My suggestion is don't ride them. If other people want to ride them and get killed that's thier prerogative. It is not up to you. Stop trying to dictate everyone else's safety. Worry about your own and you will be fine.

BF

You are so right.
The innocent driver who accidentally kills or maims the moped operator, receives a life sentence.
And emergency personnel, no matter how well trained, are human beings who also suffer from the trauma they encounter!

Scott Ryan New Jersey

Do you honestly think that if you were, God forbid, involved in an accident with a moped, and it was their fault, that you would shrug off another person's injuries as their own fault? Hmmm.....Maybe you would.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 19:04

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Rich Edgartown

So they ban rentals on the Island.
Tourists will rent on the mainland and bring them over on the ferry.
Since the Island is still part of the Commonwealth the state laws would take presidence

Heavyhearted MV

Rich, you might be right. Although I would guess there would be far fewer mopeds on the roads. And even if every single renter got their ride off Island, we would still benefit. These seasonal service industry jobs cost residents a great deal beyond heartbreak. There are a few wealthy local businesspeople who make lots of money off these operations. They have a ton of employees they pay low wages, and those employees compete with EMS personnel, police, and 911 operators for housing. I am fairly certain this island could do with a few less seasonal moped renters and a few more critical services personnel. We, as year 'round residents, get to decide these things. That is the law of the land. Let's get wise. And above all else, let us pray for the victims here.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 19:29

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Kevin

Please let's not assume so many conditions. Nothing states that the mopeds were rented. No facts describe the incident. Commenters who are interested in action (for years) should gather facts and take action. Bikers on the road while adjacent bike paths are empty are a similar obstacle to drivers. 44 miles of bike paths but bike riders jam the roads too.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 20:35

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Beth Edgartown

If we can't ban them easily, what about spreading the information, so tourists can make a better-informed choice? I've seen notes left on cars about bad parking...that same tool could be used for good...pamphlets or flyers warning about the dangers of mopeds. Citing the numbers of injuries and deaths over the years. Even if it's after-the-fact of them renting, warning tourists we see with them, which can be hard to do without sounding like we're being nasty maybe....but I think could be done. I looked at yelp reviews of some of the rental places and people are just like "oh i know people hate mopeds, but it was great!" Maybe we flood sites like that with reviews and info, that factor into how tourists make their choices in the first place....

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 20:37

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Lisa Schroeder Oak Bluffs

This accident was reportedly horrific. Wake up, Martha's Vineyard, Find a way to make a change.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 22:20

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Lori edgartown

Prayers for these girls for a quick and full recovery.Also prayers for the Truck Driver and responders <3 When will it be enough to do away with mopeds???

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 22:58

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Jake West Tisbury

Two 19 year old females
One with a leg amputation how sad. Prayers

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 07/31/2016 - 01:23

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Christine Powers Waltham

My prayers go up to the young woman who lost her leg. Her life is ruined! Mopeds and moped rental agencies should be banned immediately. No more loss of life and limb should be tolerated!

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