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Lake Tahoe Boat Capsize Kills Eight, Prompts Safety Review of Life Jacket Use

Investigators are examining how life jackets aided the two survivors during a sudden thunderstorm that overturned the vessel.

This undated photo provided by the Pickles family shows Josh Pickles, center, with his parents Terry Pickles, right, and mother Paula Bozinovich. (Pickles Family via AP)
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A boat with 10 people onboard capsized on Lake Tahoe on June 21, 2025.

Overview

  • On June 21, a sudden summer storm with winds up to 45 mph and eight-foot swells capsized a 27-foot Chris-Craft boat near D.L. Bliss State Park, dunking ten people into cold water.
  • Rescue teams recovered eight bodies by June 23, including DoorDash sourcing head Joshua Pickles, his parents Terry Pickles and Paula Bozinovich, and his uncle Peter Bayes.
  • Two passengers survived after being pulled from the lake wearing life jackets and were hospitalized with hypothermia and other injuries.
  • The El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office and U.S. Coast Guard have launched an inquiry into flotation device availability and emergency response procedures.
  • DoorDash and Airbnb executives, family representatives and local officials have offered condolences, underscoring the dangers of unexpected storms on popular waterways.