An Island woman died in a single-car accident Monday afternoon on Eastville avenue across from the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital.

Rachel Dow, 37, of Pennywise Path in Edgartown, was driving out of the hospital parking lot around 5:45 p.m. when her 1988 Acura Legend shot into the woods across the street and burst into flames, state police trooper David Parent said.

The vehicle came to rest next to a large tree that blocked the driver’s side door. Oak Bluffs police and fire personnel, as well as state police, responded to the scene and found Ms. Dow unresponsive inside the vehicle. Rescue personnel were able to enter the vehicle through the back window, but were unable to immediately remove her from the car.

Trooper Parent said Ms. Dow may have suffered a medical emergency, causing her foot to press down on the vehicle’s accelerator. The tires on the car continued to spin after it came to a stop. The state police accident reconstruction team arrived on the Island on Tuesday to investigate.

State police Sgt. Neal Maciel said investigators are checking what Ms. Dow was doing just prior to the accident. Although she was leaving the hospital parking lot, there is no indication so far that she had been at the hospital as a patient. Anyone with information is asked to contact Sergeant Maciel or Trooper Parent at 508-693-0545.