A father and his young son were flown to a Boston trauma center with life-threatening injuries Thursday after they collided with a pick-up truck while on an electric bike, according to police.
First responders were called to the entrance of the Island Inn and Nomans Restaurant at about 8 p.m. Thursday for a report of a serious crash. An off-duty nurse and bystanders were already attending to the pair and CPR was being performed on the young child when EMS and police arrived.
The 38-year-old man and his 6-year-old son were rushed to Martha’s Vineyard Hospital and then flown by the U.S. Coast Guard to an off-Island medical facility, according to a statement from Oak Bluffs police.
Police said they did not know the medical status of the patients on Friday and an investigation into the crash is ongoing.
Police believe the pick-up was traveling southwest on Sea View avenue and was attempting to make a right-hand turn into the Nomans parking lot.
The father and son were riding a dirt-bike style motorcycle and headed northeast on the bike path that runs parallel to the road, according to police.
The preliminary investigation suggests the father, who had his son seated in front of him, collided with the left corner of the truck at a high rate of speed, police said Friday.
A state police crash reconstruction team was called in to investigate with Oak Bluffs police. The driver of the pick-up truck was also brought to the hospital to be evaluated and was later released.
Police declined to comment further on the crash.
“A thorough and comprehensive investigation into the factors surrounding this incident is actively underway,” Oak Bluffs police wrote. “No information regarding potential criminal charges will be released until the investigation is concluded.”
Sea View avenue was closed Thursday night when officers investigated the crash.
Editor's note: this article has been updated with more information from Oak Bluffs police.
This article appears in July 17, 2026.
Do we know whether the injured man and child were in the car or on the E bike?
Article says “The father and son were riding a dirt-bike style motorcycle”
Island Inn is the street that leads into Nomans restaurant. I parked in their lot last week as a group of bikers was heading out to Beach Road and we heard someone scream and screeching car breaks. It wound up being only a close call, no one was hit. But it seems like this area is a problem for bikes.
At the intersection of Beach Road and Island Inn the bike lane along Beach Road abruptly stops. I’m guessing both drivers and bikers find that confusing, and it’s unclear for them who has the right of way.
I’m thinking that a BICYCLES STOP sign is needed at those entrances to the parking lot. It’s hard to see for cars and bikes to see each other. Especially if the bike is going fast.
SIGNS need to go up Everywhere Now!
(Common Highway Departments!)
“MA LAW –
E Bikes
20 mph Limit
on Bike Paths.
Strickly Enforced”