83-Year-Old Gloucester Man, Thomas James Martin III, Dies in SUV Crash

An 83-year-old man from Gloucester has tragically died after his white SUV crashed into the woods on Thatcher Road. The driver, Thomas James Martin III, was identified by Rockport police on Friday. Martin’s wife, Marcia, described him as kind, giving, and a family man. The couple had been living in Gloucester for the past 20 years. The cause of the accident is still unknown.

According to Rockport Police Chief John Horvath, Martin’s 2019 Lexus GX460 veered off the highway near #8 on Thatcher Road and collided with a tree. Martin was taken to Addison Gilbert Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The Rockport police, along with the Massachusetts State Police Collision Analysis & Reconstruction Section, are investigating the crash. The exact cause of death will be determined by the Massachusetts Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

Scanner reports from the time of the crash indicated that Martin was trapped in his car near 154 South St. Emergency responders were able to remove him from the vehicle and performed CPR. The front-end of the white Lexus was severely damaged, and the airbag deployed in the passenger compartment.

Thatcher Road experienced a temporary closure following the accident, causing traffic to come to a halt. Rockport police advised drivers to seek alternative routes until the crash site was cleared. The road was reopened by 1:30 p.m. with the assistance of Rockport police, Rockport Ambulance, the Rockport Fire Department, and Beauport Ambulance.

Initially, the police did not release the name of the victim for privacy reasons. However, after a Freedom of Information request was submitted, Rockport police provided the information about Martin’s identification.

The investigation into the crash is ongoing, with the Massachusets State Police and Rockport police working to determine the cause.