California officials have identified the eight victims who died after a powerboat capsized on Lake Tahoe over the weekend.
The 27-foot vessel carrying 10 total passengers overturned near D.L. Bliss State Park in South Lake Tahoe, California on June 21 amid a sudden storm and wave heights that reportedly reached 8 feet. Only two passengers were rescued and taken to local hospitals for treatment, prompting search and recovery efforts for the remaining eight, according to the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office.
The El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office’s Coroner’s Division confirmed Tuesday, June 24 that all eight victims have been identified. The victims include five people from California and three from New York. The deceased victims were ages 63 and over with the exception of a 37-year-old on board.
The youngest victim was confirmed as Josh Pickles, an executive at DoorDash.
“We are heartbroken by the tragic accident that took the life of our beloved colleague, Josh Pickles,” Ravi Inukonda, Chief Financial Officer at DoorDash, said in a statement to USA TODAY. “Josh loved his team and was an inspiration to everyone who had the privilege of knowing him. During his nearly seven years at DoorDash, he brought a contagious spirit that lifted those around him. The loss of Josh is immeasurable. We miss him deeply and will carry his memory with us always. Our thoughts and love are with his wife, his daughter, his family, and all who were close to him. We are working to support them through this incredibly difficult time.”
“The El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office extends its deepest heartfelt condolences to the families of those who were lost and all those who have been affected by this tragic event,” the office wrote on Facebook June 24.
Who were the victims?
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Paula Bozinovich, 71, from Redwood City, California
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Terry Pickles, 73, from Redwood City, California
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Joshua Antony Pickles, 37, from San Francisco, California
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Peter Bayes, 72, from Lincoln, California
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Timothy O’Leary, 71, from Auburn, California
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Theresa Giullari, 66, from Honeoye, New York
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James Guck, 69, from Honeoye, New York
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Stephen Lindsay, 63, from Springwater, New York
One of the victims was 37-year-old Josh Pickles, a DoorDash executive from San Francisco—as well as his parents Terry Pickles, 73, and Paula Bozinovic, 71, the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office Coroner’s Division confirmed to ABC 7 San Francisco. Josh’s uncle Peter Bayes, 72, also died in the accident, a spokesperson for the family told the outlet.
What happened?
Ten people were onboard the 27-foot Chris-Craft boat the afternoon of Saturday, June 21 when a storm prompted 8-foot swells that caused the vessel to capsize, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.
It’s unclear whether any of the boaters were wearing life jackets.
Six bodies were recovered that afternoon with the seventh victim found the evening of June 22 and the eighth on June 23, the sheriff’s office confirmed.
Where is Lake Tahoe?
Lake Tahoe is a freshwater lake high in the Sierra Nevada range, straddling the border between Nevada and California. It trails only the Great Lakes in total water volume and is renowned for its clarity.
The majority of its surface area, including the site of the boat accident, is in California.
Contributing: Julia Gomez, Siobhan McAndrew and Brett McGinness, USA TODAY Network
(This story was updated to include video.)
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: DoorDash executive among 8 victims in Lake Tahoe boat accident
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