Police, fire and EMS responded to scene of accident Monday afternoon.
Aidan Pollard

Charges Follow Monday Rollover Crash

An Edgartown woman is facing charges after a rollover accident Monday afternoon at the corner of Barnes and West Tisbury Roads sent three people to the hospital.

An Edgartown woman is facing charges after a rollover accident Monday afternoon at the corner of Barnes and West Tisbury Roads sent three people to the hospital.

Tina Polleys has been cited for negligent operation, failure to yield to an approaching vehicle, and driving with an expired license, according to Edgartown police.

Ms. Polleys was the driver of a 2011 Subaru Tribeca that collided with a 2007 Toyota Tundra late Monday afternoon, according to the police report.

According to an eyewitness account taken by police, the Subaru was attempting to make a lefthand turn from the stop sign on Barnes Road onto the West Tisbury Road when it struck the Toyota, which was traveling westbound up-Island. The crash caused the Subaru to roll over, landing on its driver’s side opposite the intersection.

“So it got hit . . . and it must have flipped one-and-a-half times,” Edgartown police chief Bruce McNamee said. “It’s quite an impact.”

The driver of the truck was Max Celeste, also of Edgartown.

The driver of the Subaru was clearly at fault, the police report concluded. The police report also said there was no indication of driver impairment.

Ms. Polleys had a passenger in her car, a minor. The crash left her trapped in the Subaru, according to the police report. She was freed by first responders while her passenger sat outside the vehicle, the report said. Both were transported to the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital, along with the driver of the pickup truck, police said.

The accident caused long traffic backups on Barnes and West Tisbury roads while police, fire and EMS responded to the scene.

The intersection has been the site of frequent motor vehicle accidents over the years. Chief McNamee said there had been 27 accidents at the intersection in the past five years. But he said the Monday mishap was more severe than most at the spot.

“We haven’t had one like that in awhile,” the chief said. He added that the town has no ability to make safety changes at the intersection because the West Tisbury Road is a state road.

Comments

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 11/30/2021 - 07:22

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Pat Edgartown

Such a dangerous intersection. I have seen so many accidents in the past 30+years at this spot. Maybe a 3 way stop would help??
I see trucks barreling down W. Tisbury Rd. at high speeds then someone cuts in front of them..... Scary intersection... Slow Down

R Scott Patterson Edgartown

Aside from this accident every accident there that I am aware of is a single vehicle accident where the driver is impaired, blows through the stop sign and end up in the woods. Just saying.

Mike West Tisbury

That is not true! The accident always happens as it is reported. Cars and trucks drive to fast on West Tisbury Rd.

R Scott Patterson Edgartown

It is very true because I said that was my recollection(which it is). You may be correct but I don't recall any accidents there that were not single car accidents.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 11/30/2021 - 12:51

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mike Somewhere

A round about should be put in place here. I have been thinking this for years. Look how well the one at ET/VH/Barnes road works.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 12/01/2021 - 03:01

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Chris Mara Edgartown

Adding another stop would create a line of cars backing up in both directions, sending out exhaust and frustrating drivers even more. Another roundabout is the safest solution.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 12/01/2021 - 07:24

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Robert M Green edgartown

What's really needed there, for now, is more of a police presence, especially during the busy hours in the am. and late afternoon. Speed is definitely the issue as well as the lack of turn signal use. Vehicles traveling from Wt. Tisbury, turning onto Barnes Rd. often try and cut the corner at high rates of speed and those coming from Ed. heading westbound fly through the intersection. What's the rush?

Paul Condlin Edgartown

You're right about everywhere... I've been there. Sitting in a police cruiser around that intersection... got me nowhere. Drivers flashing headlights to warn oncoming traffic made my presence moot... even after I left. Seriously, the only remedy is roadway enhancements. The roundabout idea is a good start to consider. The biggest obstacle is convincing Mass Highway to conduct a study. I've been there too... 20 years ago. Mass Highway dropped the ball.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 12/01/2021 - 07:29

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Chris West Tisbury and NJ

Please seriously develop plans for a roundabout. A much safer and much more efficient way to handle the ever increasing traffic at this intersection.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 12/01/2021 - 15:38

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Harland John Gibbs Vineyard haven

Dangerous intersection. I was " pushed to side by a smiling driver ". he was on a joy ride, I guess. No stop from him to see if we had any damages or hurts

He went on his way and we had to go off w tis road that damaged our front end. (our cost was almost $1,000.00 for repairs). Put in a round about for everyone's safety. Speed and "in a hurry' drivers are at fault

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 12/02/2021 - 12:48

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james Edgartown

If history is an indication we should have a round about in 2032. lets start the arguing now

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 12/02/2021 - 16:26

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Ken Edg.

The Toyota could have slowed down when approaching the intersection. I always slow down when approaching that intersection. You always have good samaritans stopping to allow people to make left turns. Its called defensive driving.

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