Motorcycle Mishap Results in Fatality

An Oak Bluffs man died following a motorcycle accident near the
Panhandle Road in West Tisbury on Sunday evening, marking the first
motor vehicle fatality on the Vineyard this summer.

David Honey, 49, died at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston
Sunday night after he was airlifted from the Martha's Vineyard
hospital with injuries sustained in the accident. His wife, Laura Honey,
who was a passenger on the motorcycle, was transported from the accident
scene to Martha's Vineyard Hospital for treatment. It is not known
whether she was admitted to the hospital, and due to privacy laws the
hospital no longer releases that information.

West Tisbury police said yesterday that the accident is still under
investigation and they were unable to release complete details. West
Tisbury Police Sgt. Jeffrey (Skipper) Manter said the mishap occurred at
7:45 p.m. Sunday at the intersection of Scotchman's Bridge Lane
and State Road. He said Mr. Honey and his wife were riding their Honda
motorcycle on State Road heading down-Island in the evening twilight. A
Volvo sedan was at the intersection of Scotchman's Bridge Lane,
heading east, according to Mr. Manter. Mr. Honey reportedly tried to
avoid a collision with the Volvo by laying down the motorcycle, but was
unsuccessful.

Sergeant Manter would not release the model or year of the Volvo,
and he would not say who was driving the car. He did say that the driver
of the car was uninjured. Sobriety tests were performed at the scene of
the accident and no arrests were made. Speed was not a factor.

The Tri-Town ambulance responded to the scene and transported Mr.
and Mrs. Honey to the Island hospital. Mr. Honey was later airlifted to
Boston. Massachusetts state police and Chilmark police were also called
to the scene for assistance, where among other things, they helped
direct traffic.