Car Crashes Through Window at Edgartown Meat and Fish

Julia Wells Sunday, April 8 2018 - 1:11pm

<p>A 71-year-old Edgartown man is facing loss of license and other possible charges after he drove his car through the window of the Edgartown Meat and Fish store at the Triangle Sunday morning.</p>

A 71-year-old Edgartown man is facing loss of license and other possible charges after he drove his car through the window of the Edgartown Meat and Fish store at the Triangle Sunday morning.

Richard Berkley was the driver in the incident, which caused significant property damage but no apparent major injuries, according to a police report.

Edgartown police were called to the scene just after 9:30 a.m. Sunday. When they arrived they found the front bay window blown out at Edgartown Meat and Fish and a 2011 Jeep Liberty inside. A customer at the store was on the floor complaining of back pain, according to the report. The customer, identified as Kevin Searle in the police report, said he had been at the counter drinking coffee when the vehicle crashed through the window.

In an interview with police, the driver told police he had been attempting to park in the handicapped spot near the store and believed he hit the accelerator instead of the brake when another car was backing out in front of him.

Mr. Berkley was transported to the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital for examination as a precaution, police said. They said the driver does have a valid handicap parking permit and uses a cane but it did not appear that the driver suffered from a medical incident at the time of the accident.

The store was evacuated during the response and later closed. Meat and Fish owner Erin Reidy was on the premises along with several other witnesses, the police report said.

Edgartown police officers Ryan Ruley and Zach Townes were the early responders. The Edgartown fire department also responded to the scene and fire chief Alex Schaeffer took incident command. The town building inspector and health agent were called in as well to inspect the premises.

The accident is under investigation. Mr. Berkley is facing a charge of negligent operation of a motor vehicle and possible loss of license.

Comments

This happens far too often.

This happens far too often. People over 60 should be tested yearly, at minimum. Way too free with our driving rights and it is always the same thing: Oops I must have floored it instead of hitting the brake.

What sort of test would that

Jackie MV

What sort of test would that be? If you ask people over 60 which pedal is the accelerator and which one is the brake, they will answer correctly.

Totally agree. Too many

KGH Edgartown

Totally agree. Too many older drivers prioritize their freedom to drive over other people's safety. And many are unsafe to drive. Luckily no one was seriously hurt or killed in this accident!

So, what would the test be?

Debbie Edgartowm

So, what would the test be? Have the driver attempt parking in a spot in front of a store, suddenly tell them to hit the brake and see if they drive into the window? And sorry, but 60 is not elderly.and the driver here is 11 years older than that!

What happened to the 25 year

Sharon

What happened to the 25 year old who went into the Net Result? Was there loss of license?

Like no teen has ever done

BT Oak Bluffs

Like no teen has ever done something like this?!

The difference is that teens

RT WT

The difference is that teens are in their learning stage, and will eventually become proficient, whereas seniors will not become more proficient, but will see a degradation of driving abilities as they age. I'm approaching 60, and while pretty confident of my driving abilities now, I can see the logic of some sort of proficiency test beyond eyesight once I hit a certain age. Mistaking gas for brake is certainly not unknown to police officers arriving at a scene involving seniors crashing into storefronts, or worse, hitting pedestrians. The problem is simply that seniors vote, and politicians are more than just hesitant to move on something which seniors oppose, but would save lives and property.

JT, you don't say how old you

AB Oak Bluffs

JT, you don't say how old you are. I think 60 is a little young. I'm 68 and have no trouble driving. I hope I'm not jinxing myself.

Unfair to generalize that

JOHN CT

Unfair to generalize that anyone over 60 needs yearly testing. I am 69 and drive 50,000
miles/year. I consider myself a better driver now than when I was younger.

That age is probably closer

Chris Katama

That age is probably closer to 70 or 75 and it’s more of a reflex test that knowing which pedal is which. Good no one was seriously hurt.

Another right foot pedal

Trevor W. Frith Clermont, Florida

Another right foot pedal error, part of the right foot braking epidemic. Let’s make sure we blame the driver, especially if they are a women or old (over 40!). Never blame the guys in charge of driver legislation and training who set the driver up to fail. They forced this driver to brake an automatic transmission vehicle with only the right foot. They did this knowing they had 0 Scientific Justification and that right foot braking is too complicated and difficult to mentally maintain with age, inefficient (poor stopping distance) and dangerous (subject to right foot pedal error) compared to the simpler and safer (But girly!) left foot braking method. See DOT HS 811 597, 812 058and 812 431 (spaces required). NHTSA refuses to use the term “right foot pedal errors” but instead calls it “pedal misapplication” and always blames the drivers for not being experts. Score to date, 150,000 dead (7 Every Day), millions injured, and billions in costs. The price male drivers, both in and out of government, are prepared to pay to maintain their systemic belief in a “Killer” braking method based on the scientific foundation of, “That’s the way it’s always been taught”! This is not about which braking method is safer but rather why they refuse to scientifically compare the two methods and continue to produce misinformation about other proposed braking methods. Was it driver error or the way we taught them to brake?

Left foot braking is only

George A Edgartown

Left foot braking is only used in auto racing in specially prepared cars with sequential transmissions. You claim that left foot braking is safer but provide exactly zero backup.

Oh Lord, I cringed when I

Michael OB

Oh Lord, I cringed when I read anyone over 60 should take a test.
Egad boy.
Wait till you get "over the supposed hill".

For the record I am WELL into

For the record I am WELL into middle age. To answer a couple posters above:

-Teens do not do this. While they are bad drivers in their own rights, this is an elderly driver problem at most every instance of cars just pulling in or backing out of a spot and all of a sudden they are in the lobby sitting in their car asking what happened.

-Why so offended at having to take a test to make sure you can still operate a 3 thousand pound box of metal safely? I know 60 year olds that look 80 and 70 year olds that look 55.

Bottom line is, here is who drives through windows and storefronts: Elderly, confused drivers 99% of the time and the odd medical event while driving(these people often shouldn't be driving either.)

If you want to prove me wrong, please show your work. I bet I see one about once a week on average in the news. Here is last week in Mansfield: http://boston.cbslocal.com/2018/03/19/hyundai-drives-into-mansfield-mas…

JT, you are spot on! This

KGH Edgartown

JT, you are spot on! This is a real problem. A few years ago an elderly woman drove into a hospital and killed a nurse and surgeon. If all the older people on this posting string are so confident in their driving skills then they shouldn't be concerned about being tested after a certain age.

Why not test everyone once a

WashAbhorred Edgartown

Why not test everyone once a year? What is the test though? A full driving test?
We should also make DUI a lifetime driving ban as that is far more dangerous. People that pass a stopped school bus should also receive the same lifetime ban. How about those driving 25mph above the limit?

Being in this world is dangerous sometimes it is because people make mistakes...other times it is because people knowingly take risks.

Wash,

These are preventable accidents, not mistakes. When the same people drive through storefronts over and over and over and every one makes the same mistake of hitting the gas instead of the brake, it is preventable. All your other examples listed have no bearing on that argument. And once you mistake the gas for the brake one time, yes you should immediately turn in your license. You are officially unable to safely drive any longer. All your other arguments are strawmen and have no place in the conversation.

I have to wonder what "well

Jackie MV

I have to wonder what "well into middle age" is for someone who thinks 60 is old. I'm guessing, 35! I'd like to see drunk drivers off the road for good. They are far more numerous and deadly than old folks driving.

Sometimes the problem is

IsabelleM

Sometimes the problem is neuropathy in the feet and the difference in the peddles can’t be felt. With SO many diabetics on the road, the issue could get worse.

I am 65, and I have not

Christine Powers Waltham

I am 65, and I have not driven since I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2007. Prior to my diagnosis, I was suffering from panic attacks when driving, which I now know were caused by my disease. Sure, it somewhat limits my life, but I feel safer now. I feel no panic when I'm a passenger in my man friend's truck, as he is a very responsible driver.

Non issue when self driving

Steve Falmouth

Non issue when self driving cars take over in a few yearsso dont worry about it

Fish market window? Is this

Hugh Weisman Chilmark & New York City

Fish market window? Is this the beginning of a trend? Or someone who has a thing against the Larsen's? Only a few years ago, a vehicle went thought the window of The Net Result in Vineyard Haven.

On the older driver thing...I think a few people are making judgements they shouldn't be making. Yes, there are probably some older drivers that shouldn't be on the roads, but there are plenty of young ones also. If retesting is is good for older drivers, it's good for all. And age discrimination is in all likely unconstitutional. For myself, I'm well into my seventies and still probably a far better driver than the average driver on the roads. Give me an automatic, a stick shift, a pickup truck, paddle shifters, or a six speed Porsche.....I'm good - maybe not an 18 wheeler, though.

Bollards,bollards, bollards!

Susan M Woodstock, NY

Bollards,bollards, bollards!
https://hudsonvalleyone.com/2018/04/05/new-paltz-plaza-tired-of-cars-cr…

Bollards,

MikeD WT

Bollards,
That is what I was thinking last night after I read the article.
Good idea
You see them all over
All stores with frontal access should install them.
They may keep pedestrians safer on the sidewalk from crazed individuals that decide to 'Mow people down' like in NY last year.
Install them 10' apart along all streets with retail businesses.

Also agrees the age of 60 is

Gigi Avon, ct / chilmark

Also agrees the age of 60 is too young, I hear more accidents from people texting in comparison to people hitting the wrong petal

People forget driving is a

Anne Edgartown

People forget driving is a privilege not a right. A driving test for anyone 70 and over to observe reactionary times and depth perception would be simple. However, having our governments run anything would be a joke. While we are at it a cellular black out for phone use in cars would cut down on distracted drivers and a lifetime ban on driving while under the influence of anything should help us all. Far too many people are selfish when driving under the influence, while distracted or way past an age when the should be. If these people won't be more responsible than it is time for our legislators to step up and do their job and do it for us all.

Must say, I'm a little

Sara Oak Bluffs

Must say, I'm a little confused as to why the driver of this car had to be named so promptly, "outed" as it were, by our local press. Hopefully he can be shown a little more mercy, particularly by people who know him or may meet him.

My mother is 90 and recently

vicki chilmark

My mother is 90 and recently took a driving assessment test. Passed with flying colors. Not sure those tests are very useful.

Lucky for us she lives in Florida.

Maybe JT and KGH could set up

Nyx Edinburgh

Maybe JT and KGH could set up a little dictatorship on another island somewhere with only under 60’s allowed??? I’m joking (obviously!) but really guys calm down it’s not an epidemic and not everywhere has such good public transport as the Vineyard for those ancient 60+ folks to get around on!