Woman Killed In Newport Regatta Boat Crash Identified

NEWPORT, R.I. — The woman who died in a collision between a powerboat and sailboat at the New England 100 Regatta on Sunday has been identified as 60-year-old Sandra G. Tartaglino of Tiverton. The Department of Environmental Management released a statement Monday morning confirming that Tartaglino was killed while competing at the regatta when a catamaran sailboat crashed with the powerboat near the Claiborne Pell Newport Bridge at about 2:45 p.m.

An investigation from the DEM's Division of Law Enforcement is pending an autopsy, reconstruction and witness statements. The DEM said in the statement that it will release a preliminary report later this week, but had no further comment on the investigation Monday morning.

Both the U.S. Coast Guard and Newport Harbormaster were called to the scene on Sunday. The harbormaster, who arrived first, pulled the woman's body from the water, the DEM said. She was later pronounced dead.

The Coast Guard sent a 29-foot response boat from Station Castle Hill in Newport to assist, a spokesperson said. The two boats, the two-person catamaran sailboat and the motorboat, which the Coast Guard said is approximately 25 feet, were taken back to Fort Adams. According to the DEM, alcohol was not a factor in the crash.