WEYMOUTH, MA — A 64-year-old man faces charges in a fatal boat crash off Grape Island that occurred on August 16, 2024.
John Reichardt, a Weymouth resident, was arraigned on two counts of assault and battery causing serious bodily injury and boat homicide by negligent operation, according to the Plymouth County District Attorney's Office. Witnesses reported a collision between Reichardt's 38-foot Sea Ray motorboat and a 21-foot Pisces sailboat, leaving two individuals critically injured.
Seventy-year-old Patricia Cicalese of Walpole died from her injuries shortly after the incident. Emergency responders transported the other victim to a local hospital. The sailboat subsequently sank.
Initially investigated by the Norfolk County District Attorney's Office, jurisdiction transferred to Plymouth County due to a conflict of interest. Authorities presented evidence, including surveillance footage and witness statements, to a grand jury, which indicted Reichardt on July 9, 2025.
During his arraignment, Reichardt pleaded not guilty and was released on personal recognizance, with conditions to refrain from further criminal activity.
Witnesses described the immediate aftermath of the crash, noting one victim appeared unconscious, while the other suffered a serious leg injury. Both occupants of the motorboat were unharmed and cooperated with investigators. The driver reported traveling at approximately 17 mph and attempted to avoid the sailboat before the collision, stating he did not see it until it was too late.
State and local authorities continue to investigate the incident in collaboration with the Massachusetts Environmental Police. A Garmin electronic unit from the sailboat, capable of recording navigational data, has been seized for forensic analysis. The United States Coast Guard is currently conducting this examination, with findings to be submitted to the court.