Chilmark police are continuing to investigate a fatal moped accident on South Road that claimed the life of a 20-year-old woman and left a 20-year-old man with serious injuries.
Chilmark police are continuing to investigate a fatal moped accident on South Road that claimed the life of a 20-year-old woman and left a 20-year-old man with serious injuries on Saturday.
In an updated release late Tuesday night, Chilmark police identified the deceased woman as Hannah Malany Iozzo of West Brookfield. A 20-year-old male from Brookfield who operated the moped on which Ms. Malany Iozzo was a passenger has not been identified. The man was airlifted to a hospital in Rhode Island on the day of the accident.
Accident reconstruction team worked through Sunday morning at the scene of the crash. No names had been released on Monday.
Accident reconstruction team worked through Sunday morning at the scene of the crash. No names had been released on Monday.
No charges have been filed in connection to the incident.
“The facts and circumstances of the crash remain under investigation,” Chilmark police said in the release.
The collision occurred a few minutes before noon on Saturday when police were called to a curvy, narrow section of South Road near Stonegate Lane.
According to Tuesday’s slightly more detailed police statement, evidence at the scene and witness interviews indicated that a black 2016 Lexus RX 350 was traveling in the eastbound lane when a 2018 Genuine Venture moped traveling west veered over the double yellow lines, and collided with the Lexus on the front, driver-side of the vehicle.
“Both occupants of the moped were thrown to the side of the road,” the police statement said.
A press release Saturday confirmed that Ms. Malany Iozzo was transported to the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital, where she was declared deceased from injuries sustained in the collision. The 20-year-old male moped driver was flown from the Martha’s Vineyard Airport to Rhode Island Hospital in Providence, R.H. Police described his injuries as “severe.”
Tri-town EMS provided emergency care at the scene. A state police trooper assisted Chilmark police, fire and EMS in the initial response.
The black Lexus was operated by a 79-year-old male from Edgartown, according to the police statement, and had a 77-year-old female passenger, also from Edgartown. Both vehicle passengers were uninjured.
Chilmark police confirmed in the statement that the moped was owned by Kings Rentals of MV LLC — an Oak Bluffs moped rental business.
During the initial response Saturday afternoon, South Road was closed off for nearly three hours from the mid-Island gas station in West Tisbury to Beetlebung Corner. Police redirected traffic to Middle Road, with South Road reopening around 2:50 p.m., after police and fire officials swept substanital debris from the roadway, using brooms, shovels and a fire hose.
The damaged moped and black Lexus SUV with damage to its driver side were towed from the scene. At least one other moped was near the accident scene, undamaged. Tuesday’s release did not provide further detail on the second moped.
Reached by phone on Wednesday, Chilmark police Sgt. Sean Slavin confirmed the presence of three mopeds on the scene. He said the mopeds were traveling together as part of the same party. Two of the mopeds were uninvolved in the accident, Sergeant Slavin said.
Accident forensic experts worked through the morning Sunday, closing South Road from Stonegate Lane to Quenames Road for accident reconstruction from about 8 a.m. until 11 a.m. Both Chilmark and state police were present at the scene.
State police spokesman David Procopio confirmed that Chilmark police are leading the investigation.
Sergeant Slavin said due to backlogs, the state police accident reconstruction report could take months to complete. He expected the Chilmark police report to conclude soon.
“We’re still gathering information,” Sergeant Slavin said.
The fatal accident occurred just south of a fatal 2014 moped accident near a dip on South Road, in which the operator lost control and veered into oncoming traffic.
That accident sparked a renewed movement to ban moped rentals on the Island, which later stalled in the state legislature.
An online obituary for Ms. Malany Iozzo states that she was a 2019 graduate of Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School in Charlton, and was on a family vacation when the accident occurred.
“Hannah enjoyed cheerleading, running track, giraffes and the color purple,” the obituary said.
Comments
Mopeds are really dangerous
Amanda OBMopeds are really dangerous on this island.
Unsuspecting tourists, not
Kenny Oak BluffsUnsuspecting tourists, not knowing our sandy and winding roads, are allowed to rent a moped and double up. How allowing 2 people to ride a moped here makes NO sense to me. It truly is blood money to rent to these unsuspecting tourists, many of whom have never ridden a moped. Sad how the all mighty dollar wins over lives.
I absolutely agree, odd
Carrie EdgartownI absolutely agree, odd rather pay higher prices out here to avoid another innocent life lost due to the all mighty dollar. Isn’t there SOMETHING the public can do to make the renting of mopeds illegal on Island? I witnessed a man almost fall off his on Circuit Ave recently. There’s already enough motor and foot traffic without adding inexperienced riders
At least ban 2 persons on a
Mark Acker WTAt least ban 2 persons on a moped if not all mopeds. Also moped renters should be advised which roads are the most dangerous. It should be a crime to rent a moped on these narrow roads.
Going back many many years I
Marcia Binninger Somerset, MA formerly of Tisbury, MAGoing back many many years I worked for Adventure Rentals on Beach Road. We would tell tourists that our mopeds were not allowed to go to Chilmark and Gay Head (Aquinnah). If they went up there and broke down or we had to retrieve them in anyway shape or form they would lose their hefty deposit. Remember that old saying Riding Double leads to trouble? We used to instruct our rentals and make them test drive in the parking lot. If they were too wobbly we would refund all their money and encourage them to rent a car or take the bus. It’s getting worse and worse. My kids have always asked why I never took them out on mopeds. No way! I told them! I like you in one piece!! I hope they never try.
A few weeks ago, I saw an
Evan EdgartownA few weeks ago, I saw an “instructor” giving lessons to a poor woman. She nearly fell off twice, and was lurching forward before slamming on the brakes. The guy said “go take it around the block and come back, make sure you’re okay, and if so you’re all set.” I wouldn’t let that girl ride my bike, let alone a moped, yet there she was.
When I rented mopeds in the
George Davis Oak BluffsWhen I rented mopeds in the early 90s, I was clearly instructed that I was not permitted to go any further up-Island than Alley's General Store. I'm not sure what changed to remove that restriction, but it apparently isn't in place these days.
Classify mopeds as
R Scott Patterson EdgartownClassify mopeds as motorcycles. Problem solved.
exactly...onces you
Giovanni Raphael Revere Maexactly...onces you classified moped as a motorcycle dead end for those without properly lincesed great point
Exactly. Require a motorcycle
Michael DitchfieldExactly. Require a motorcycle permit.
AGREE 100%, same with the
Bruce in WT W. Tis.AGREE 100%, same with the high speed bikes and while we are at it Bike riders need some training also.
I agree! I see no reason
Nicholas Hathaway EdgartownI agree! I see no reason mopeds are exempt from license requirements. I was required to obtain a motorcycle license in order to ride with a passenger. I don’t understand why mopeds can be rented out to any inexperienced joe that wants one. We either need to require a motorcycle license or some type of training course. This happens every year. On top of the danger posed to the riders, they cause congestion on our already crowded roads. Personally I think we should do away with them all together.
GODBLESS ALL INVOLVED.
GODSPAL MVGODBLESS ALL INVOLVED.
No more mopeds.
TracyNo more mopeds.
Despite the long livlelihood
Brian Driscoll West TisDespite the long livlelihood of moped rental businesses, which I do consider, the imposition to trafiic flow, safety, injuries and fatalities MUST out-weigh the business interests. As traffic flow increases, as we recognize and bemoan, these incidents will increase. Please don’t ignore this.
Ban all mopeds
Margaret Bernashe obBan all mopeds
Driving around in Chilmark
Kat New HampshireDriving around in Chilmark and Aquinnah, with cyclists, runners, and moped drivers scares me half to death. I always watch out for them, but there are a bunch of lunatics that think driving cars on those roads gives them the right to drive way over the speed limit, and not give a damn about anybody else on the road. I’m amazed there aren’t more accidents. Just awful.
Thankyou for that! She lives!
Lonny IozxoThankyou for that! She lives! That's my neice, so to all who think they know what their commenting on,,, think twice
I’m so sorry for your loss.
Susan SturbridgeI’m so sorry for your loss.
couldn’t agree more couldn’t
chris k w tisburycouldn’t agree more couldn’t believe how fast people drive on those narrow roads and the bus drivers are the worst offenders. probably trying to keep a schedule
Thank you to all of the
Jane Norton Chilmark, MAThank you to all of the bystanders who helped and the amazing first responders called to the scene.
Mopeds are (still) dangerous.
Prayers for the mom who lost
Paris Major EdgartownPrayers for the mom who lost her daughter tonight, and to the boyfriend who was so sweet and thinking only of getting help for his girlfriend. Thank you to the Hospice counselor, and the ER doctor, the other bystanders and the EMTs at the scene. Prayers for the family and friends, and healing for the young man.
Yes, Paris, thank you for
Ruth Campbell WTYes, Paris, thank you for remembering the human piece.
A tragedy that will certainly destroy many lives, with so many “what if’s”.
if I had to choose between a life, or a scenic tree, I’d pick life, every time.
This is so sad to read. My
Ursula Webster maThis is so sad to read. My daughter went went to school together. This is just so heartbreak8ng to read. Thinking of all involved! So tradgic.
Thank you for thinking of
Peggi C DudleyThank you for thinking of them. I have known the young lady for 6 years and am still in shock.
Thankyou... Family all
Lonny IozzoThankyou... Family all grieves tremendously
There but for the grace of
Susan SturbridgeThere but for the grace of god, this could have been my family. My daughter and her boyfriend rented mopeds over the summer on the island and rode all around. The moped rental place was run by young kids who didn’t verify any skill level and my daughter said they just let anyone rent. My daughters bf went to Bay Path and knows people who know the victim, so this hits very close to home for us. My condolences to everyone involved.
the only people that WANT
Local MVYthe only people that WANT mopeds are the rental pimps. This was an issue when there were half the people coming here. How can a vehicle be allowed on a road system that can’t go the speed limits safely!? And these accidents are rarely anyone other then young people who camt afford anything else. How long will we let this happen in our community? If this were a fragile piece of land or view, people would be all over it. So lame.
During the gas shortage years
Jeff Baker Prospect MaineDuring the gas shortage years ago I used a moped for work (It fit nice in the JD 544 when i went to a job) got cut off the road twice, tried taking a passenger once never again! Got a Honda 350 much safer ! Still fit in the bucket also was a SL350 on/off road bike.
any driver who has attempted
august westt edgartownany driver who has attempted to navigate around a moped on the island roads understands the danger involved here. mopeds travel at a slower speed, making the inevitable attempt to pass one or more on a fast moving road quite challenging even for most experienced island drivers. how many more naive kids are going to lose limbs or get themselves killed before we put a stop to this clearly unacceptable practice?
raise the rental age to 30
Gabrielle West Tisburyraise the rental age to 30
What is it going to take to
Mama OBWhat is it going to take to finally ban these little death machines? Do we have to wait till it involves a selectman, or a member of their family? Or maybe a member of some board or committee on Island? Come on, how many young people have to be injured and killed before something is done.
If it has a motor and wheels
here we go again edgIf it has a motor and wheels it should be require a motorcyle licence. period. Just putting pedals on a small motorcycle to get around the rules has tragic results. my thoughts are with the victims and their families.
You’re correct they should be
R Scott Patterson EdgartownYou’re correct they should be classified a motorcycle but having pedals has nothing to do with it. Anything under 50cc doesn’t require a motorcycle certification.
Navigating Vineyard roads
Kate EdgartownNavigating Vineyard roads with groups of moped riders (often doubled up) is difficult for experienced drivers let alone new drivers. I think about all of these newly licensed Vineyard kids getting to and from various job who just don't have the skills gained by years of experience to navigate safely. Why are we putting our new drivers and inexperienced moped renters in this position? What is it going to take to make the roads safe for everyone? We have a very well oiled machine in the summer VTA that can take tourists wherever they need to go, no need for mopeds.
I agree completely re VTA. Do
Katherine Scott TisburyI agree completely re VTA. Do these kids realize that they can get a day pass on the VTA and go pretty much anywhere? Also with their bikes. They they can hike a bit once they get to their destination (say, from the Gay Head cliffs down to the Land Bank beach.)@@
Some years ago I created an "all-day tour" for a young couple. Using the schedules of the routes I created an itinerary for them to see a large portion of the island, "bus-hopping" on the VTA, with stops for lunch and looking around in between. @@ Aside from the safety advantage, both people get to look out the window and enjoy the scenery. @@ Perhaps a few such itineraries could be created and featured on the VTA website and elsewhere. Or printed up as a user-friendly brochure. It would be a better alternative to the dangerous moped trip.
Just a thought.
While banning mopeds would
Jim EdgartownWhile banning mopeds would probably be found unconstitutional locals towns can set minimum speed limits ( ie 30 mph) on state funded roads like he interstate highway do. Mopeds can ONLY go 25 mph by law. Offenses of said minimum speed limits on roads can’t be ticked at any set fee. This would require moped business to tell renters that driving on roads with set minimum speed limits are subject to a large fine. The mopeds can ride around in each and every town BUT traveling FROM town to town under the speed limit on posted minimum speed limit state roads is a subject to a hefty fee. Towns can raise monies by issuing tickets and the renter then takes all responsibility. This may be Martha’s Vineyards only legal option.
100% great idea about minimum
William Edgartown100% great idea about minimum speed limits on state roads which, I have advocated in the past as the easy way to get around moped travel. Even better about the fines which I did not think about. Getting the state to do something? Don't be stupid, not going to happen. This has been an issue for many, many years and death and destruction has not wavered the state position thus far. The true problem is no one is accountable. Except the Governor, where the buck must stop.
I coined the phrase "Mopeds
Michael Stutz Cartagena, ColombiaI coined the phrase "Mopeds Are Dangerous" when we unsuccessfully lobbied for a law prohibiting rental of mopeds. From this experience, I concluded that, although mopeds are dangerous, it is more the way people drive large vehicles on island roads that is incompatible with smaller, slower vehicles, including mopeds, bicycles and inline skates.
I'm now in Colombia where there are many small, slower vehicles drive with larger ones. This looks like the future, with electric vehicles, some quite small, taking over the roads. In Cartagena tourists can rent mopeds, electric and gasoline, segways, scooters and bicycles. Electric mopeds are inexpensive, require no licensing or insurance, and are allowed where other vehicles are not.
Visitors to the island, and island residents, really need to slow down, USA urban and suburban driving styles are incompatible with the island, we we need to watch out for the growing number of small, slower vehicles. I'd recommend an educational program to persuade people to drive more slowly and more carefully.
I haven’t seen or read any
Hang onI haven’t seen or read any indication that the driver of the SUV was at fault. If you actually believe mopeds are dangerous, perhaps you shouldn’t be so quick to condemn the driver of the SUV since it will likely turn out to be yet another case where the moped operator lost control.
Long time resident and former
DV CALong time resident and former licensed motorcycle instructor: Cartagena is a completely different culture. Those riders are full-time experienced two-wheel commuters and the roads are not the same. Moreover the summer resident traffic here is 5 times the winter traffic and that does not include the 3-million summer visitors in cars who don't know the roads. Most moped riders here have little or no experience, are distracted by sightseeing on roads they don't know, and, not mentioned before, have a deadline to get out, see everything and get back before the rental day is over unlike Cartagena local traffic. I've owned mopeds, motor scooters and motorcycles on the Vineyard. Traffic that cannot mix, in the middle of the lane of other traffic forces slower traffic to bunch up when passing is not possible, and cross into the oncoming traffic when passing is tried, often on curved roads with limited sightlines to the next corner. Even more difficult at dusk or in the rain when a little too much brake on a moped will cause an upset. The moped is usually traveling in a band only about 12-inches wide to stay off the verge and if they hit grass, sand or a slight change in surface edge height they swerve or come down. With ove 150,000 miles on motorcycles, and knowing my own machine and being a resident, knowing every curve and sandtrap, I rarely used it and stopped when they were forbidden from the paved bike paths. Few have my experience and I, a former instructor, thought it was unsafe. The laws for every state cannot single out individual communities and bar vehicles from use but a legal strategy has to be developed to prevent further casualties that, absolutely, will follow unless this incompatible traffic is removed from the roads. There are few enough individual island moped owners, most of whom have bought theirs from the renters after the season has retired the older ones. Let them get a motorcycle license, it's not that difficult, and separate them from the renters. We place restrictions on auto drivers with brand new licenses in cars but none on strangers who have never driven a moped, don't know the roads, are sightseeing (distracted) and are carrying a passenger which newly licensed car drivers are not allowed to do.
The most experienced,
T Jones EdgartownThe most experienced, accurate, thoughtful and clinical view on this emotional subject I’ve read. Many thanks.
I agree with DV's comments,
Downislander TooI agree with DV's comments, but they do not negate Michael Stutz's comments regarding the fact that people drive increasingly large vehicles, including vans and trucks, way TOO FAST on island roads. They seem to think they are on a freeway in LA! There should be a maximum speed limit of 40 mph on all Island roads.
Very sad. Prayers to the
Ann EdgartownVery sad. Prayers to the families. Mopeds should be banned - it’s been obvious for a long time. Moped Rentals set up where ferry drops off makes visitors believe this is the island norm and is safe. Unsuspecting usually young people are deceived. The island government needs to do their job and ban mopeds.
My prayers to the family’s so
Jim EdgartownMy prayers to the family’s so safe and tragic…
Cars are super dangerous.
Jim Oak BluffsCars are super dangerous. With the number of accidents I believe cars should be banned. Even worse are bicycles. With the amount of falls, injuries and and accidents with vehicles probably should be banned. And pedestrians walking. So dangerous. On top of that there are so many boat accidents. Probably should ban swimming to limit jellyfish stings and shark attacks. All kidding aside as someone who owns a scooter on island to get around easily peak season I agree for someone with no experience they can be very dangerous. The goal of a discussion like this should be to figure out a logical solution to keep everyone safe not to pile on mopeds because you don’t like them. If the complaint is its an inconvenience to go 25 instead of 30 saving 5 minutes on a drive seems a bit silly. Obviously moped RENTERS probably shouldn't be on a road with higher speeds. At the core this is a state issue.
Tragic yes my question is
Gina Menemsha/NYCTragic yes my question is exactly how lucrative a moped rental business really is ?? They have renters sign waivers etc but still need minimal insurance & biz licenses maybe even factor minimal overhead so is it a profitable biz as it makes MV a more dangerous place?? Maybe the Gazette can investigate??
My thoughts exactly- just how
Same WTMy thoughts exactly- just how much money do the company owners believe is worth the cost of a human life? It reliably happens every couple years so we could probably get the price.
It is horrible that the loss
AM 02539It is horrible that the loss of life is what brings mopeds back to the forefront, but they truly are a hazard. Whether by using Jim’s idea re: minimum speeds or otherwise, I truly think that a hard look must be taken at removing them from Island roadways.
These are not mopeds they are
Tom Engley West TisburyThese are not mopeds they are motor scooters. It the CC ( cubic centimeters) that matter from motorcycle to none motor cycle I think its under 50 cc. So 49 cc. Underpowered but still a scary ride with over 300 pounds make them top heavy. No one has the skills that are needed to operate these unless they have ridden a motorcycle and most who have wouldn’t rent one. Even if all are road were dead straight we would still have a problem. Pray for their families.
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