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DARTMOUTH — An experienced sailor and prominent retired businessman was killed Friday afternoon after a power boat collided with the sailboat he was aboard and threw him into the waters of Buzzards Bay.

David J. Walsh, 64, a South Dartmouth resident popularly known as "D.J.", was the retired president of Teledyne Rodney Metals, a specialty metals manufacturer, and past chairman of the Buzzards Bay Regatta. The Bristol County District Attorney's Office confirmed his death Friday night.

According to the Coast Guard, Mr. Walsh and Warren G. Hathaway, publisher emeritus of Hathaway Newspapers, part of the SouthCoast Media Group, were sailing off Padanaram when a 60-foot power boat hit Mr. Hathaway's 30-foot sailboat, the Padanaram, around 1:30 p.m. Friday near Wilkes Ledge.

Mr. Hathaway was being treated at St. Luke's Hospital Friday night but escaped serious injury in the accident, according to Gregg Miliote, spokesman for Bristol County District Attorney C. Samuel Sutter.

Mr. Walsh was thrown into the water by the force of the collision. A Coast Guard crew aboard a 25-foot response boat located him just before 2:30 p.m. and transported him to State Pier in New Bedford, where an ambulance was waiting, according to Coast Guard Public Affairs Officer Zach Zubricki.

He was taken to St. Luke's Hospital where he was pronounced dead, a hospital spokeswoman confirmed.

The Reasons' three-person crew reported the accident to the Coast Guard Station at Menemsha. Two nearby patrolling cutters, the Ridley and the Tybee, as well as the 25-foot response boat and a helicopter were dispatched.

Coast Guard officers boarded the Reasons after the collision, according to Mr. Miliote.

Reasons' homeport could not be determined Friday night and information about the identities of its crew was not available.

At the time of the accident, seas were less than one foot and winds were 5 to 10 knots, the Coast Guard said.

"They're doing an investigation to find out what happened," Officer Zubricki said.

The Massachusetts Environmental Police, along with District Attorney's Office and the Dartmouth Police, are investigating the accident.

On Friday afternoon, several hours after the fatal accident, investigators were aboard the Reasons, which had been taken to the Fairhaven Shipyard and Marina where it was lifted out of the water.

Marina personnel said the Padanaram also was towed there.

While it was unclear Friday night what led to the collision, South Dartmouth resident Tom Kenney, a friend of Mr. Walsh and Mr. Hathaway, shared what he had learned about the accident.

Mr. Kenney said he had seen both men at the New Bedford Yacht Club dock on Friday morning

"It was my understanding that a fairly large power boat ran up over D.J.'s stern and threw him into the water. Warren Hathaway was below decks. He scrambled up, the boat was taking on water," Mr. Kenney said. "D.J. probably didn't even see it coming."

He said Mr. Hathaway was walking on his own when he was brought to the dock in Padanaram, but was put on a stretcher and taken to St. Luke's Hospital.

Mr. Kenney said Mr. Hathaway, who was "pretty well banged up," told him that if he had been on deck, he would have been killed.

Mr. Kenney, also an experienced sailor, said he wonders whether the power boat was on autopilot or its operator was distracted. According to the Coast Guard, visibility at the time was two to three miles.

"It's very hard to collide with a sailboat stern on," he said.

Mr. Walsh was a well-known and well-loved person around the area.

He retired from Teledyne Rodney Metals in 1996 when Allegheny Ludlum took over Teledyne Inc.

Mr. Walsh also served two terms as the president of the Buzzards Bay Regatta, most recently last year, and he had been a regatta volunteer for 14 years. This year's event is scheduled for Aug. 1, 2 and 3.

As co-chairman of the Waterfront Committee, Mr. Walsh also helped coordinate the appearance of several Tall Ships during the 1996 Summerfest waterfront festival.

Mayor Scott W. Lang Friday night described the incident as a "terrible tragedy," calling Mr. Walsh an institution in the community.

Mr. Kenney, who has served as publicity chairman for the Buzzards Bay Regatta, said Friday night that people at the New Bedford Yacht Club were "stunned" by the accident.

"The whole thing is very strange, very surreal," he said.

On Friday morning, as Mr. Hathaway prepared to launch the Padanaram, Mr. Kenny said he and Mr. Walsh talked about Mr. Walsh's recent knee replacement surgery.

"He said how much better he's felt since he had the surgery," Mr. Kenney said.

Mr. Kenney said Mr. Walsh's wife is in Maryland visiting their grandchildren.

Correspondent Barbara Veneri contributed to this report.