A West Tisbury man will face charges including leaving the scene of property damage, police said, after a single-car crash Saturday that damaged a South Water street home.
Police said Paul Metell, 59, was not seriously injured in the incident that led to a roughly three-hour search for the owner of a gray Chevy Corvette that crashed into a property at 113 South Water street.
According to a police report, Edgartown police were called to the home at about 5:30 p.m. Saturday after a report of a motor vehicle accident. Police said a heavily damaged Corvette was found on the lawn, and the house sustained damage to the fence, lawn, flower bed and entrance. The vehicle was totalled, police said, and officers said it was obvious the vehicle had caused damage to the house.
Police said it appeared the Corvette was traveling out of town on South Water street at a high rate of speed when it began veering to the left. Police said it appeared brakes were applied and the car spun, striking the house and then continuing to spin before stopping.
There was nobody inside the Corvette nor any signs of injury or that passengers had been ejected from the car, according to the police report. The car was determined to belong to Mr. Metell, and witnesses said they observed him leaving the scene and that he said he was okay.
Police contacted his wife and searched for Mr. Metell through locating his cell phone, according to police, and he was later found at about 9 p.m. at the Newes from America pub in downtown Edgartown. He told officers that he was not hurt, voluntarily gave a witness statement, and “was extremely apologetic and upset at the situation,” police said.
Police said officers were not able to determine whether alcohol was involved in the incident.
Mr. Metell will be summonsed to Edgartown district court on charges of leaving the scene of property damage, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, speeding and marked lanes violation, police said.
The home’s caretaker and property owners Vivek and Anne Kushwaha were contacted and said they would provide an estimate of the cost of damage when it was available, police said.
Comments
Comment policy »