Elio Persico, the ‘drunk’ skipper of the boat that crashed and killed Bloomsbury USA president Adrienne Vaughan, was also distracted by a cell phone, her distraught husband claims

By Laura Parnaby

Updated: 17:58 BST, 7 August 2023

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The husband of the Bloomsbury USA president who died after being launched into a ship's propellers during a speedboat crash has said their drugged-up Italian skipper was also on his cellphone in the moments before the tragedy. Adrienne Vaughan, 45, was killed Thursday after the small rented speedboat she was riding with her husband Mike White and their two children rammed into the side of a stationary 130-foot chartered ship carrying 80 wedding party guests.

The husband of the Bloomsbury USA president who died after being launched into a ship’s propellers during a speedboat crash has said their drugged-up Italian skipper was also on his cellphone in the moments before the tragedy. Adrienne Vaughan, 45, was killed Thursday after the small rented speedboat she was riding with her husband Mike White and their two children rammed into the side of a stationary 130-foot chartered ship carrying 80 wedding party guests.

Captain Elio Persico (pictured), 30, tested positive for a class A drug after the collision, per Italian media, and according to Il Messaggero, White told rescuers the pilot was distracted by a cellphone. Persico, from Massa Lubrense near Sorrento, was taken to hospital with pelvis and rib fractures and he now faces possible charges of shipwreck, manslaughter and negligent injury.

Captain Elio Persico (pictured), 30, tested positive for a class A drug after the collision, per Italian media, and according to Il Messaggero, White told rescuers the pilot was distracted by a cellphone. Persico, from Massa Lubrense near Sorrento, was taken to hospital with pelvis and rib fractures and he now faces possible charges of shipwreck, manslaughter and negligent injury.

Captain Elio Persico (pictured), 30, tested positive for a class A drug after the collision, per Italian media, and according to Il Messaggero, White told rescuers the pilot was distracted by a cellphone. Persico, from Massa Lubrense near Sorrento, was taken to hospital with pelvis and rib fractures and he now faces possible charges of shipwreck, manslaughter and negligent injury.

Prosecutor Marinella Guglielmotti questioned the skipper while he was in hospital, and demanded his phone records be handed over, the newspaper said. Persico tested positive for alcohol and [expletive], according to Italian news agency ANSA. Vaughan was launched into the ship's propellers, while White escaped with a dislocated shoulder and lacerations. The couple's children Leanna, 14, and Mason, 11, were unharmed but treated for shock.

Prosecutor Marinella Guglielmotti questioned the skipper while he was in hospital, and demanded his phone records be handed over, the newspaper said. Persico tested positive for alcohol and [expletive], according to Italian news agency ANSA. Vaughan was launched into the ship's propellers, while White escaped with a dislocated shoulder and lacerations. The couple's children Leanna, 14, and Mason, 11, were unharmed but treated for shock.

Prosecutor Marinella Guglielmotti questioned the skipper while he was in hospital, and demanded his phone records be handed over, the newspaper said. Persico tested positive for alcohol and [expletive], according to Italian news agency ANSA. Vaughan was launched into the ship’s propellers, while White escaped with a dislocated shoulder and lacerations. The couple’s children Leanna, 14, and Mason, 11, were unharmed but treated for shock.

The horror crash was captured in shocking footage shot on board the Tortuga ship. The bride and groom were seen dancing with their guests surrounded by picturesque scenery just moments before the music fell silent as the speedboat slammed into the side of their vessel. Horrified guests gasped and hurried to the edge to offer the family inflatables.

The horror crash was captured in shocking footage shot on board the Tortuga ship. The bride and groom were seen dancing with their guests surrounded by picturesque scenery just moments before the music fell silent as the speedboat slammed into the side of their vessel. Horrified guests gasped and hurried to the edge to offer the family inflatables.

The horror crash was captured in shocking footage shot on board the Tortuga ship. The bride and groom were seen dancing with their guests surrounded by picturesque scenery just moments before the music fell silent as the speedboat slammed into the side of their vessel. Horrified guests gasped and hurried to the edge to offer the family inflatables.

New York-born Vaughan had reportedly been 'dreaming' of her family vacation to Italy, and her husband shared a Facebook post showing the foursome bronzed and beaming beside the Trevi Fountain and Colosseum just one day before the crash. They were heading towards Positano on the 29-foot motorboat when their vessel slammed into the Tortuga ship in Fiordo di Furore at around 6.30pm Thursday. Salerno Chief Prosecutor Giuseppe Borrelli said Vaughan had been sunbathing on the bow of the boat when it crashed, and she 'bounced' into the water at the moment of impact.

New York-born Vaughan had reportedly been 'dreaming' of her family vacation to Italy, and her husband shared a Facebook post showing the foursome bronzed and beaming beside the Trevi Fountain and Colosseum just one day before the crash. They were heading towards Positano on the 29-foot motorboat when their vessel slammed into the Tortuga ship in Fiordo di Furore at around 6.30pm Thursday. Salerno Chief Prosecutor Giuseppe Borrelli said Vaughan had been sunbathing on the bow of the boat when it crashed, and she 'bounced' into the water at the moment of impact.

New York-born Vaughan had reportedly been ‘dreaming’ of her family vacation to Italy, and her husband shared a Facebook post showing the foursome bronzed and beaming beside the Trevi Fountain and Colosseum just one day before the crash. They were heading towards Positano on the 29-foot motorboat when their vessel slammed into the Tortuga ship in Fiordo di Furore at around 6.30pm Thursday. Salerno Chief Prosecutor Giuseppe Borrelli said Vaughan had been sunbathing on the bow of the boat when it crashed, and she ‘bounced’ into the water at the moment of impact.

Two doctors who were among the passengers on the wedding sailboat dived into the sea to to help Vaughan, while a nearby vessel brought her to shore, Italian state radio said, quoting the sailboat's captain. But Borrelli said Vaughan died before a medical helicopter and local ambulance could take her to hospital. He declined to detail her injuries, saying the results of an autopsy are still pending.

Two doctors who were among the passengers on the wedding sailboat dived into the sea to to help Vaughan, while a nearby vessel brought her to shore, Italian state radio said, quoting the sailboat's captain. But Borrelli said Vaughan died before a medical helicopter and local ambulance could take her to hospital. He declined to detail her injuries, saying the results of an autopsy are still pending.

Two doctors who were among the passengers on the wedding sailboat dived into the sea to to help Vaughan, while a nearby vessel brought her to shore, Italian state radio said, quoting the sailboat’s captain. But Borrelli said Vaughan died before a medical helicopter and local ambulance could take her to hospital. He declined to detail her injuries, saying the results of an autopsy are still pending.

The couple's two young children are now in the care of one of the their grandfathers who travelled to Italy to help while their father is recovering. Vaughan graduated with an MBA from the NYU Stern School of Business before embarking on her impressive publishing career. She went on to work for the Oxford University Press, and from 2015 to 2018 she worked for the Disney publishing group. Vaughan joined Bloomsbury as an executive director and COO in 2020, before being named as the U.S. president of the company the next year. When she was promoted to the prestigious position, Bloomsbury praised her for her 'strong leadership during a challenging time.'

The couple's two young children are now in the care of one of the their grandfathers who travelled to Italy to help while their father is recovering. Vaughan graduated with an MBA from the NYU Stern School of Business before embarking on her impressive publishing career. She went on to work for the Oxford University Press, and from 2015 to 2018 she worked for the Disney publishing group. Vaughan joined Bloomsbury as an executive director and COO in 2020, before being named as the U.S. president of the company the next year. When she was promoted to the prestigious position, Bloomsbury praised her for her 'strong leadership during a challenging time.'

The couple’s two young children are now in the care of one of the their grandfathers who travelled to Italy to help while their father is recovering. Vaughan graduated with an MBA from the NYU Stern School of Business before embarking on her impressive publishing career. She went on to work for the Oxford University Press, and from 2015 to 2018 she worked for the Disney publishing group. Vaughan joined Bloomsbury as an executive director and COO in 2020, before being named as the U.S. president of the company the next year. When she was promoted to the prestigious position, Bloomsbury praised her for her ‘strong leadership during a challenging time.’

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