Eight people lost their lives in a devastating boating accident on Lake Tahoe on June 21. The El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that a 27-foot boat carrying ten passengers capsized near D.L. Bliss State Park during a sudden storm. Authorities cited strong winds and rough water as contributing factors to the tragic incident.
Among the victims was 37-year-old Joshua Antony Pickles, a DoorDash executive from San Francisco, along with his parents, Paula Bozinovich and Terry Pickles of Redwood City. Also killed were Peter Bayes of Lincoln, Timothy O’Leary of Auburn, Theresa Giullari and James Guck of Honeoye, New York, and Stephen Lindsay of Springwater, New York. Two passengers survived and have not been publicly identified.
Recovery operations concluded on June 23 after the last missing person was found. The Sheriff’s Office, along with the U.S. Coast Guard and California State Parks, coordinated extensive search efforts. Officials believe the boat overturned due to rapidly changing weather that caught the group by surprise.
The community continues to mourn the loss of these eight lives. Authorities have offered condolences to the families and are reminding boaters to monitor weather conditions closely, especially as summer storms become more unpredictable and potentially dangerous.