Skipper of boat in crash that killed Bloomsbury USA president Adrienne Vaughan on Amalfi coast faces manslaughter investigation
- Adrienne Vaughan, 45, died when the speedboat she was on crashed into a ship
The skipper of the boat that crashed and killed president of Bloomsbury USA Adrienne Vaughan on the Amalfi coast now faces an investigation for manslaughter.
The Italian skipper, who has not been publicly identified, is also being investigated on suspicion of causing a shipwreck after a witness claimed he was ‘vomiting’ and ‘gave the impression he was drunk’.
Ms Vaughan, 45, was killed, her husband injured and her two children treated for shock after the speedboat they were on crashed into a 130ft sailing ship, carrying 85 people celebrating a wedding.
No charges have so far been filed against the skipper and the investigation is still ongoing, according to Salerno Chief Prosecutor Giuseppe Borrelli.
Blood samples were taken from the skipper to determine alcohol and drug levels but Borrelli indicated that the results were inconclusive.
Adrienne Vaughan, 45, (pictured) was killed, her husband injured and her two children treated for shock after the speedboat they were on crashed into a 130ft sailing ship carrying 85 people
The skipper of the boat that crashed on the Amalfi coast now faces an investigation for manslaughter
The Italian skipper is also being investigated on suspicion of causing a shipwreck after he crashed into a sailing ship that was carrying a wedding party
Ms Vaughan was tragically killed and her husband Mike White (pictured) injured in the crash
‘The results are being evaluated by a consultant of the prosecutor’s office since the data per se aren’t necessarily significant,’ said Borrelli.
He added that more evaluation was needed to determine ‘the incidence of the levels on the ability of the subject’ to pilot the boat.
On Friday Italian news reports said that the blood toxicology tests had found traces of cocaine.
Investigators have questioned the skipper who remains hospitalized with what Italian media said are pelvis and rib fractures.
READ MORE: Horror moment wedding yacht party witnesses propeller death of Bloomsbury USA president Adrienne Vaughan after she was thrown from speedboat captained by ‘drunk’ skipper on Amalfi coast
The victim’s husband, Mike White, is being treated at another hospital for a shoulder injury, according to reports. Authorities have spoken to him and plan to do so again, Borrelli said.
The couple’s two young children were uninjured and had to be treated for shock. They are now in the care of one of their grandfathers who travelled to Italy to help while their father is recovering, the prosecutor said.
Borrelli said that when the crash happened Ms Vaughan was sunning herself on the bow of the boat and ‘bounced’ into the water at the moment of impact.
She was then was repeatedly struck by the motorboat’s propeller, according to Italian news reports. Borrelli declined to detail her injuries, saying the results of an autopsy are still pending.
Footage captured the moment the wedding party fell silent as the speedboat struck their ship, where guests rushed to the side of the vessel after the two boats crunched together.
The bride and groom and their guests were seen dancing and enjoying the picturesque scenery just moments before the music fell silent as the speedboat slammed into the side.
Guests were heard exclaiming ‘Oh my god’ as they flung inflatables at the family.
Two doctors who were among the passengers on the sailboat dived into the sea to help Ms Vaughan, while a nearby vessel brought her to shore, Italian state radio said, quoting the sailboat’s captain.
Borrelli said the woman died before a medical helicopter and local ambulance could take her to hospital.
The sailboat’s captain has told Italian media that the motorboat was speeding when it smashed into the stationary sailboat’s bow.
The prosecutor said investigators also questioned the captain of the sailboat as well as some 70 passengers including American and other foreign tourists.
The family’s speedboat collided with a large ship upon which around 85 people were celebrating
No charges have so far been filed against the skipper and the investigation is still ongoing
The motorboat had set sail from the town of Amalfi, Borrelli said. According to Italian media, the family was headed to Positano, another popular coastal town when the crash happened.
Ms Vaughan was president of Bloomsbury Publishing’s U.S. branch, which counts writers ranging from bestselling novelists Sarah J. Maas and Susanna Clarke to historian Mark Kurlansky among its roster of authors.
She was named US president of the publishing house in 2021, and had joined the company a year before as an executive director and COO.
She was involved in major projects involving titles such as the Harry Potter series. From 2015 to 2018 she had worked for the Disney publishing group.
She was described as ‘charismatic true leader’, by a former colleague on LinkedIn, who added: ‘She was my coach and my mentor. I loved working with her every day. It was always ready to help others.’
Ms Vaughan graduated with an MBA from the NYU Stern School of Business before her publishing career, which also saw her work for Oxford University Press.
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