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
In the late 70s, when I was
Personal Experience East ChopIn the late 70s, when I was 16 or 17, I nearly killed someone on a moped Up Island. I don’t recall which road we were on, but I was driving a big ol’ station wagon with my mom and her best friend, and several younger siblings. I remember idling along behind two mopeds at about 20 MPH for a while, on a windy road, until I finally got brave enough to try to pass. I don’t know exactly what happened with the front moped, but it seemed like her steering buckled or something, the result of which was her swerving way out into the road, where I was accelerating to pass. She rolled up onto the hood and then down in front of the car. I’ve never been so scared in my life. I thought I killed her. Thankfully she only had a leg wound and nothing worse, though she and her friend were plenty shook up by the experience. I will never, never forget it. I have to say, having experienced that, I would NEVER rent a moped anywhere. Just … NO. It’s just too sketchy for inexperienced day trippers. It’s not fair to drivers who really don’t want to be responsible for injuring a shaky rider. Please, please. Let this be the last summer they’re available.
Every rental business should
Carolyn O'Daly EdgartownEvery rental business should be required to have large posters with pictures of accidents, dead bodies, and people who have lost limbs. Just informing them such things can happen isn't enough.
Cigarette packs in Hong Kong
Laurence Fayetteville, NC/ Xi'an, PRCCigarette packs in Hong Kong do exactly that, show pictures of people with throat cancer,lung cancer damage, and even smoking related amputations.
Yet people still smoke.
Slow-moving scooters with
MDW EdgartownSlow-moving scooters with doubled up recreational drivers and riders on our narrow and winding roads, fast-moving motorized bicycles on the paths that we and our children and grandchildren use… How many more tragedies will it take before we do what so obviously needs to be done to safeguard our loved ones?
The so-called mopeds are
Gayle Vineyard HavenThe so-called mopeds are getting faster and the cars on the roads are getting larger. If it was easy to ban mopeds we would have done it a long time ago. I guess it’s going to take tragedies like this for the issue to be dealt with soon, hopefully.
TWO thoughts: first, visitors
Geoff FalmouthTWO thoughts: first, visitors who are renting the Mopeds either should show they already have a Motorcycle license, or be required to spend a few hours getting some fundamental training to alert them to the level of RISK they are exposed to if they decide to ride. Second, they need to understand that even when they are going only half the speed of a car, the severity of injuries due to any loss of control will still be far greater than if they were in a car. If the proprieters of these rental businesses were intelligent, they would require the renter to demonstrate some basic control skills for a small fee before agreeing to rent to a user. If they cannot show appropriate control, then decline to rent them the scooter.
Imagine the difference between someone who hasn't even ridden a bicycle anytime in the past 30 years trying to ride a moped vs. an experienced motorcyclist who has taken professionally taught training on managing the risks of riding, and understands the consequences of a crash. Such training already exists, and is taught nearly every day at numerous locations here in MA. Check the Registry's website in the Motorcycling section.
While I completely with your
Mark VHWhile I completely with your recommendation, the moped rental businesses on the island have ZERO interest in pre-assessing potential customers for riding competency. Their is interest is singular in nature: to put their “assets” on the road as much and as often as possible to maximize revenue. The waiver they require their customers to sign is further evidence their safety is only secondary.
Tragic. No matter what the
JayEff EdgartownTragic. No matter what the cause. All the comments are very valid, i.e. mopeds are risky vehicles on MV. This isn't Bermuda. And yes, the moped thing continues because town leaders are afraid to cut off a money-making business. One suggestion is for Edgartown and up-island towns to ban mopeds in their towns. VH and OB can keep this nonsense going, but moped renters are limited to just those towns.
What does ur take to ban
Jane EdgartownWhat does ur take to ban these mopeds once and for all?? What happened to the last go around I thought we were so close to banning them?? I am sorry for the family’s involved my prayers to you.
I guess we just have to
TisKid VHI guess we just have to accept this indefinitely.
This breaks my heart: The
Carla Taylor-Pla ChilmarkThis breaks my heart: The fragility of human life and the pain it causes all who are involved. God bless the family of this young woman, and all who suffer this devastating loss.
Does any one but, me,
virginia yorke aquinnahDoes any one but, me, remember when the wonderful Dick Reston( yes, from the Vineyard Gazette) decided to see exactly what folks were talking about with regard to mopeds. As a life long islander, he thought he and a reporter should take a ride around the island on mopeds. They made it from Edgartown to Moshop Trail at Aquinnah when his reporter lost it in the sand, and was transported back down island. He thought, he'd be fine, he made it back to Ables Hill, where he ended his journey, in the sandy roadway. That was the 70s ...about time? No they are NOT safe to be on our roads.
How many of you would be
Nicole Brisson EdgartownHow many of you would be willing to donate to a gofundme campaign if it could be matched and used to buy out the moped businesses? I and a group of people attempted to make things safer and then stop rentals through a home rule petition that died in the state house. Perhaps it’s time to go the route of “money talks.”
I’m in
Debbie EdgartownI’m in
May this tragic event not go
mike SomewhereMay this tragic event not go unreconciled. The fact that car drivers cant get around a moped is the issue. People pull out to pass the moped and - BANG - an accident or in this case worse. Mopeds are and always have been too slow to be driven on roadways that have speed limits exceeding the speed a moped can go. Really - it's a money grab tourist trap. Lets make our Island safer and a more responsible place and rent vehicles that classify as a motorcycle that can go the speed limit. This would hopefully mean a more experienced rider would be on the road.
Runners, bicyclists and
Pia Gundersen EdgartownRunners, bicyclists and mopeds all share the roads of Martha’s Vineyard with ( ever bigger) cars and trucks. Drivers of said cars and trucks need to remember why certain stretches of road are painted with a double yellow line. That goes for the combination solid/dotted line. Up island roads are the worst due to so many blind spots. Maybe car drivers shouldbe required to look at photos so they can think twice before making potentially life altering passes. Also, ever notice just how many people STILL drive while texting?
Maybe the law we need is one
Art D. VHMaybe the law we need is one that would prohibit the rental companies from asking people for waivers of liability when they rent. The rental companies are making a lot of money off this business and they know the risks better than the 20-year-old renters do. If the companies rent to untrained, unsuspecting tourists, the rental companies should face liability for the foreseeable consequences (and they are foreseeable), and the financial cost of these accidents will have to be part of their cost of doing business. This doesn’t directly address the tragic human dimension of these crashes, but maybe the rental companies will have to get insurance for the liability, and the insurance companies will begin pressing them about their business practices. A round-about way, to be sure, but Islanders have been hammering on this issue for years without results, and this approach has worked in other safety-related fields.
wider roads are needed for
concerned Vineyard havenwider roads are needed for sure. so scary passing mopeds, bicyclists, etc. at least seasonal traffic lights too. we have just as much, or more, traffic as off island.why must i risk my life to turn left to state road??? the lack of structure and amount of cars is just horrifying.
There should be a minimum
WD Vineyard HavenThere should be a minimum speed limit on the major roads around the island. And since having two people on board slows these vehicles, I doubt they would qualify to go on most roads.
I borrowed my younger sister
Sandra WarehamI borrowed my younger sister’s Vespa scooter for a quick ride around the neighborhood and, despite being a mature, careful driver, I took a right turn while driving down a slight hill and ended up in the same lane as oncoming traffic when I took the turn wide. Had there been a vehicle coming toward me, we would have hit each other head-on. I drove it straight back to my sister’s home and have not been on a moped since. They really are dangerous in inexperienced hands.
Truly saddened by this news.
Monica B Washington, DCTruly saddened by this news. So sorry to all families involved. Hoping we find compassion for one another as spectators on the outside of this awful loss. Peace to all.
Ban moped rentals. Tourists
Adelaide Kent New York CityBan moped rentals. Tourists are often inexperienced and the roads on MVY can be tricky to the unfamiliar.
However there is a place for moped owners, who topically learn about their machines.
Prayers and blessings to those involved.
Years ago, when the first
Carl Young Scituate MaYears ago, when the first years that mope3ds were allowed on the island, I had a moped rental business on the island. I went to visit the business on my usual visit to the island and when I saw the level of competence of the people renting the mopeds I was upset they were not qualified to operate the machine. While the business was profitable and made money, because of the danger of the rentals I decided to close the business and market the mopeds I donot believe that mopeds should be allowed on the island they are dangerous allowed on the island they are dangerous because of the environment and the competence of the operators, There ar other means of safe transportation
Tragic. Should not have
Harland John Gibbs Vineyard havenTragic. Should not have happened. Vacationers are for FUN times. And they are not aware that it can be dangerous riding a Moped. More attention to road conditions and other vehicles on the road seem to be out the window when riding a seemingly a treed shady quiet country road. What was a vacation was a tragedy. Solutions ae what? more walking and bicycle paths.? NO Mopeds?. They are not going away. Towns could pass more stringent rules and fines for Mopeds and more visible Street signs for Moped safety. (who knows if the Moped drivers are drinking??. another safety problem)
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