A pedestrian who was struck by a pickup truck at the Five Corners intersection in Vineyard Haven Monday night was flown to an off-Island hospital with serious injuries, Tisbury police confirmed late Tuesday.
The pedestrian is a 58-year-old female from Vineyard Haven who is expected to survive, police also said.
According to a Tisbury police report released late Tuesday, Joao Vitor Goncalves de Oliveira, 22, of Oak Bluffs, has been cited for a crosswalk violation and failing to stop at an intersection.
According to the report the accident occurred at around 9:30 p.m. Monday. Mr. Goncalves de Oliveira was driving a 2003 Dodge Ram pickup and had just left Cumberland Farms, where he had bought some snacks, and was eating from a bag of popcorn, according to the report. His speed was approximately 7 to 10 mph, the police report said.
As recounted in the report, Mr. de Oliveira entered the Five Corners intersection from Lagoon Pond Road traveling north, and turned west onto Beach street. “At the moment he turned onto Beach Street, he lost control of his popcorn bag, and momentarily took his eyes off the road and became distracted as he looked to down to locate the popcorn bag,” the police report said. “When he looked up he saw a figure in an orange reflective jacket as his truck struck the pedestrian . . . Mr. Goncalves de Oliveira stopped and tried to help the pedestrian,” the report continued.
Alcohol and drugs were not a factor in the accident, the police report concluded.
Tisbury police, fire and EMS all responded to the scene. The victim was transported to the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital where she was stabilized before being med flighted off-Island, police said.
