A speedboat captain in Italy has received a relatively light sentence following a tragic crash that resulted in the death of Adrian Vaughan, a prominent figure in the publishing world known for her work with Harry Potter books.
On Friday, Elio Persico, the captain who sought a plea deal from a judge in Salerno, was sentenced to four years and nine months in prison, as reported by CBS News.
Persico, 32, faced charges of manslaughter after allegedly navigating the boat while under the influence of both alcohol and cocaine, operating at a speed of 15 knots.
Vaughan, who was 45 and served as president of Bloomsbury Publishing USA, was aboard the 130-foot sailboat Tortuga with her husband and two young children when the incident occurred on August 3, 2024. During the collision, she was reportedly sunbathing when she was thrown into the water and ultimately struck by the speedboat’s propeller.
Persico sustained injuries to his ribs and pelvis and tested positive for both cocaine and alcohol post-accident. While authorities confirmed the presence of cocaine, they didn’t specify his level of intoxication.
Footage from the Tortuga captured the atmosphere onboard just before the crash, revealing wedding guests dancing and a woman expressing confusion about the sudden impact as people realized they had been hit.
The larger vessel carried around 70 passengers and crew. A bartender onboard recalled the moments leading up to the crash, noting the motorboat veered dramatically, resulting in a loud collision.
He observed Persico vomiting after the crash, raising suspicions about the captain’s state at the time.
Emergency responders attempted life-saving measures on Vaughan after she was pulled from the water, but unfortunately, she was pronounced dead before reaching the hospital. Her husband, Mike White, suffered a collarbone injury requiring surgery, although their children, Leanna and Mason, escaped physical harm but needed treatment for shock.
White alleged that Persico had been distracted by his phone during the voyage, claiming, “He was always on the phone,” a point echoed in reports.
In the wake of Vaughan’s tragic death, her family expressed their grief, stating that they had been devastated by the loss of a beloved mother, wife, and friend, emphasizing the incomprehensible nature of her absence.
Just a day before the accident, the family had arrived in Italy and visited famous sites in Rome, according to photos shared by White.
Bloomsbury Publishing honored Vaughan, describing her as a talented leader with an infectious passion for literature, and noted the profound impact she had on those who knew and worked with her.
