Mass. man faces charges in boat crash that killed woman in 2024

A Weymouth, Massachusetts, man was charged Wednesday in connection with a 2024 boat crash that killed a 70-year-old woman and injured her husband. On Aug. 16, 2024, Weymouth and Hingham emergency teams responded to a crash involving the 38-foot Sea Ray motorboat and a 21-foot Pisces sailboat in Hingham Bay near Grape Island.Patricia Cicalese, of East Walpole, died on Sept. 7, the Norfolk County District Attorney said. Her husband was seriously injured. John Edward Reichardt, 64, pleaded not guilty to two counts of assault and battery causing serious bodily injury and one count of boat homicide by negligent operation. He was released on personal recognizance and will return to court on June 23. According to a police report, the powerboat was heading away from Hingham into the main channel at about 17 mph when it hit the sailboat. According to a police report, Reichardt said he was paying attention to a small fishing boat that was crossing the channel about 1/2 to 3/4 of a mile ahead when he saw the sailboat cut across his bow at the last moment. " ... It was too late and he grabbed the steering wheel first and realized he wasn't going to be able to avoid it and powered down his vessel. He tried to turn hard to the starboard side, but could not avoid the collision," according to the police report. The crash submerged the sailboat, leaving only the top of its mast and the tip of the bow visible above the waterline.The crash was investigated by Massachusetts State Police detectives from the Norfolk District Attorney’s Office and the Massachusetts Environmental Police.