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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.

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.