Who is Josh Pickles? DoorDash exec dies after boat capsized on Lake Tahoe
Joshua Antony Pickles, 37, of San Francisco, was among the eight who died when the 27-foot Chris-Craft boat they were in capsized near D.L. Bliss State Park in South Lake Tahoe, California that Saturday afternoon. There were 10 passengers on board when a sudden storm brought 8-foot swells that caused the vessel to capsize, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.
Also on board and reported dead were Pickles' parents, Terry Pickles, 73, and Paula Bozinovich, 71, both of Redwood City, California, and his uncle, Peter Bayes, 72, of Lincoln, California.
Two people were rescued, but four others died:
Who was Josh Pickles?
A graduate of California Polytechnic State University, Josh Pickles was the head of strategic sourcing at DoorDash in San Francisco, the San Jose Mercury News reported. He had worked at DoorDash for seven years after previous jobs at Cisco Systems and Salesforce, Bay Area news station ABC 7 reported, citing his LinkedIn page, which is no longer online.
"We are heartbroken by the tragic accident that took the life of our beloved colleague, Josh Pickles," DoorDash chief financial officer Ravi Inukonda 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."
His wife, Jordan Sugar-Carlsgaard, told the Mercury News in a statement the group had gone out on the boat to celebrate Bozinovich's birthday. The couple married two years ago and Sugar-Carlsgaard remained at home with their 7-month-old daughter, the News reported.
"We are devastated by this tragedy. We lost my loving husband, Josh Pickles, his parents, Terry Pickles and Paula Bozinovich, and Uncle Peter Bayes, as well as friends in this tragedy," Sugar-Carlsgaard said in her statement. "No words can express the pain and anguish we feel knowing their lives were lost during what was meant to be a joyful time on the lake. Our hearts go out to those who tragically lost their lives and the two survivors of this unexpected and deadly storm on Lake Tahoe.'
Pickles and Sugar-Carlsgaard, who is a senior executive assistant to the CEO of Airbnb, owned homes in the Bay Area and Lake Tahoe, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. Pickles was a part owner of the boat, which he had purchased a year ago with his father, according to the Chronicle. Family spokesman Sam Singer said the boat belonged to Pickles and his wife, ABC 7 reported.
This outing was the first this season after just two sessions last boating season, according to Singer. "This is a terrible heartbreaking tragedy," he told ABC 7.
Contributing: Julia Gomez, Siobhan McAndrew, Brett McGinness and Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY Network
Mike Snider is a reporter on USA TODAY's Trending team. You can follow him on Threads, Bluesky, X and email him at mikegsnider & @mikegsnider.bsky.social & @mikesnider & msnider@usatoday.com
What's everyone talking about? Sign up for our trending newsletter to get the latest news of the day
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
7 hours ago
- USA Today
Does Olive Garden offer 25-cent wine samples? Yes, the rumors are true
What's better than free breadsticks? Breadsticks with free (or heavily discounted) wine, of course. Over the past week, rumors have circulated online that Olive Garden offers 25-cent wine samples to guests ages 21 and older. Some content creators have shared their experiences at their local Olive Garden locations, but understandably, some are skeptical. "I haven't been inside of Olive Garden for years because I don't like the quality of their food, but okay, Olive Garden did something with this 25-cent wine tasting. I was able to taste all the wine I was interested in," a content creator who goes by Kay's KK said in a recent TikTok video. In her video, she shows that she tried six wine samples for a total of about $1.60. So what's the deal – does Olive Garden offer wine for just a quarter? Does Olive Garden offer 25-cent wine samples? It's complicated. Olive Garden does offer complimentary 1-ounce samples of wine to guests 21 and up with their meal. In some states, this sample is free. But in other states, where free alcohol samples are not permitted, these start at 25 cents, Jaime Bunker, Olive Garden senior vice president of marketing, told USA TODAY. The samples aren't a full glass, though. In comparison to the 1-ounce sample, a traditional glass of wine is 5 ounces, according to New York-based wine retailer Millesima. How many 25-cent wine samples is one guest limited to? Guests are welcome to a "few" wine samples with their meal, Bunker said. She did not specify the exact number of samples a guest is limited to. Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at gcross@
Los Angeles Times
9 hours ago
- Los Angeles Times
California's burger wars heat up as Habit Burger & Grill trolls In-N-Out with new billboard
Habit Burger & Grill has doubled down on its provocative marketing strategy, updating its billboard trolling of burger giant In-N-Out for a second consecutive year after once again beating the chain in a national ranking. Habit has updated its existing billboard near Los Angeles International Airport, directly across from an In-N-Out location on Sepulveda Boulevard, to reflect its rival's drop to fourth place in USA Today's 10 Best fast-food burger rankings. The same sign from last year has been recycled, with the '#2' crossed out in red and replaced with '#4.' The company — which took first place for the best fast-food burger (the Double Char) — also earned top rankings from USA Today for best fast casual restaurant and best fast-food side dish for its tempura green beans. 'We congratulated In-N-Out on being #2 last year with a billboard,' Jack Hinchliffe, chief marketing officer at Habit, said in a press release. 'This year, we were going to send a gift but couldn't afford the postage to Tennessee, so we saved a few bucks and reused the same billboard. We just had to swap out the 2 for a 4.' The Tennessee reference is a pointed jab at In-N-Out's eastward expansion. In January 2023, the company announced plans to establish an Eastern territory office in Franklin, Tenn., by 2026. Last month, billionaire owner and Chief Executive Lynsi Snyder announced on a conservative podcast that she is personally leaving California for Tennessee. 'There's a lot of great things about California, but raising a family is not easy here. Doing business is not easy here,' Snyder said during her appearance on a conservative podcast. She specifically cited COVID-19 pandemic-era restrictions as particularly challenging for business operations. Snyder's departure represents a seismic shift for the leader of a brand that has been a pillar of California fast-food culture for more than 75 years. The move places In-N-Out among a growing list of major companies relocating from California, including electric car maker Tesla, financial services firm Charles Schwab, and oil giant Chevron, all citing regulatory challenges, operational costs and policy disagreements. The timing of Habit's latest marketing gambit coincides with In-N-Out's continued decline in the annual USA Today rankings. In-N-Out ranked sixth in 2023, second in 2024, and fourth this year. USA Today's 10 Best contests rely on expert panels to select nominees, followed by public voting to determine winners. While not scientific, the rankings have gained attention among consumers. The billboard campaign represents an asymmetric marketing battle between two companies of vastly different sizes. In-N-Out operates more than 400 locations across eight states, while Habit has more than 385 restaurants across 14 states and international markets since opening its first location in Santa Barbara in 1969. 'We were born in Santa Barbara in 1969, remain proudly Californian and we're not going anywhere,' Hinchliffe said. Both chains maintain their headquarters in Irvine, located about seven miles apart, though In-N-Out plans to consolidate its California operations in Baldwin Park, where Harry Snyder, Lynsi Snyder's grandfather, co-founded the company in 1948. The In-N-Out billboard is part of a broader campaign by Habit targeting multiple competitors. The company has deployed mobile billboards to locations near other chains that made the USA Today rankings, including Chipotle, Five Guys, Shake Shack and Panera Bread, offering congratulatory messages on their lower rankings. In-N-Out did not respond to a request for comment.
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Yahoo
Bath & Body Works kiosks open in 600 college bookstores. Where in Indiana?
This story has been updated It's back to school for Bath & Body Works as the company announced plans to sell its products in over 600 college campus stores for the 2025-2026 academic year. The brand's reach aims to strengthen its connection with Generation Z consumers after being named the No. 1 fragrance brand for American teens and the third overall most-shopped at beauty stores by teens in the Piper Sandler Taking Stock with Teens Spring 2025 Survey. Bath & Body Works has partnered with ICM Distributing Company to launch kiosks, working with national chains such as Barnes & Noble College and Follett-operated bookstores, as well as independent campus retailers, according to Chief Merchandising Officer Betsy Schumacher. What products will be available at college campuses? A variety of Bath & Body Works products will be available on college campuses, including body creams and lotions, fragrance mists, Wallflower diffusers, PocketBac hand sanitizers, lip products such as glosses and scrubs, hand soap and 3-wick candles, Schumacher said. Scents like Champagne Toast, Mahogany Teakwood and Clean House Vibes are standout scents and will be available in these bookstores, added Schumacher. Which Indiana Universities have the Bath & Body Works kiosks? Bath & Body Works kiosks will be located at several Indiana campuses, including: Ball State University Butler University Indiana State University Indiana University (Bloomington and Indianapolis) Saint Mary's College University of Evansville University of Notre Dame University of Southern Indiana Bath & Body Works kiosks will be located on approximately 600 college campuses nationwide. The following 400-plus locations are at Barnes & Noble College- and Follett-owned campus bookstores, provided to USA TODAY by Bath & Body Works. The remaining locations, not included in the chart below, are independently owned bookstores. Can't see the chart in your browser? Visit Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at gcross@ This article originally appeared on The Times-Mail: Bath & Body Works opens kiosks in 600 college bookstores. See list. Solve the daily Crossword
