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Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Climate
- Daily Mail
Fatal mistakes made by eight Lake Tahoe boat passengers who drowned when their vessel capsized
The eight victims of the tragic Lake Tahoe boating accident were not wearing life jackets and made no distress calls when their vessel capsized. Ten boaters aboard a 28-foot gold Chris-Craft vessel set out from the California side of Lake Tahoe last month, eager to enjoy a sun-drenched day on the water for a 71st birthday celebration. But the day turned fatal when a sudden, powerful storm erupted over the lake - unleashing eight-foot waves, pounding hail and torrential rain - and struck without warning and ultimately capsized their boat, claiming eight lives. A preliminary report released Wednesday by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) revealed that only the two survivors were wearing flotation devices, and no distress call was made when a wave inundated their luxury boat, according to The San Francisco Chronicle. On the morning of June 21st, the conditions outside were perfect for a carefree weekend outing - clear skies, gentle breezes and steadily rising temperatures. Despite a slight chance of rain and thunderstorms - a common occurrence for seasoned boaters - hundreds still took to the water that day. But something shifted around 2pm - some boaters spotted whitecaps forming on the water, while others noticed the wind suddenly picking up, blowing fiercely from the north, as reported by The Los Angeles Times. According to the new report, the ten boaters were anchored at Emerald Bay when the boat's operator decided to leave the area as weather conditions began to worsen. But as they made their way back, according to one survivor, the waves and wind intensified, and marble-sized hail began accumulating in the boat, as reported by SF Chronicle. In an attempt to halt the unfolding chaos, the driver activated two bilge pumps - each capable of removing up to 1,100 gallons per hour - according to the report. From that moment, conditions deteriorated rapidly, transforming a calm day into a desperate race against time and nature - as eight-foot waves, 30-knot winds and hail engulfed the lake within just minutes. The engine of the ill-fated vessel failed approximately 50 to 100 yards from shore, near D.L. Bliss State Park. Once the boat came to a stop, some passengers tried to bail out water - but their efforts were overwhelmed as a large wave crashed over the side. According to Wednesday's report, one of the two survivors quickly put on a life jacket and began handing them out to others on board - but no one else immediately put theirs on. Moments later, the boat capsized, throwing all 10 passengers into the frigid 54-degree water. One survivor told investigators that it had begun to snow, according to the outlet. At around 3pm, a group of hikers called 911 and reported seeing a group in the water after their boat rolled over - all while waves in the area at the time were around eight-feet high. According to Wednesday's report, one of the two survivors quickly put on a life jacket and began handing them out to others on board - but no one else immediately put theirs on A hiker and a California State Parks lifeguard helped rescue the two survivors from the water - one was wearing a flotation device, while the other was clinging to one, according to the report. A massive search-and-rescue operation involving multiple agencies was quickly launched to locate the remaining boaters, including North Tahoe Fire, California State Parks, the Washoe County Sheriff's Office and the United States Coast Guard. The recovery operations also required advanced divers and specialized teams, including Wilderness Finder Search Dog Teams. Six bodies were recovered on the surface of the water near the capsized boat shortly after the storm. The following day, the Washoe County Sheriff's Office responded to a request from the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office to assist in recovering the two remaining victims. The victims of the disaster were identified as: Paula Bozinovich, 71, Terry Pickles, 73, Joshua Antony Pickles, 37, Peter Bayes, 72, Timothy O'Leary, 71, Theresa Giullari, 66, James Guck, 69 and Stephen Lindsay, 63. The survivors were identified as Amy Friduss and her mother, Julie Lindsay - both from New York - who were treated at a hospital for hypothermia and other injuries, according to SF Chronicle. At the accident site, investigators recovered four life jackets and a single life ring, according to the report. Additional flotation devices were later discovered on the boat - some still in their original plastic packaging with tags attached, others tucked away in storage compartments, unused. The boat - which was called Over the Moon - was registered to California and valued at $393,000. The seating capacity was equipped for 12 passengers. As part of the preliminary report, investigators interviewed one survivor, a lifeguard, several witnesses, Good Samaritans and other boating personnel who were involved in the response, as reported by the outlet. The report also noted that investigators examined the boat - salvaged from the lake the day after the incident - and found no evidence of a hull breach, grounding or collision with any object. Among those who lost their lives was 37-year-old DoorDash executive Josh Pickles, along with his parents - 73-year-old Terry Pickles and 71-year-old Paula Bozinovich. Pickles' wife had stayed home taking care of their seven-month-old daughter at the time of the disaster, according to Fox News. The group was celebrating his mother's 71st birthday on Lake Tahoe. Two other victims were also from California: Josh Pickles' uncle, 72-year-old Peter Bayes, and 71-year-old Timothy O'Leary. The three remaining victims - 66-year-old Theresa Giullari, 69-year-old James Guck and 63-year-old Stephen Lindsay - were visiting from New York. 'These individuals were part of a closely connected family group enjoying a birthday gathering on the lake,' the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office said in a June 24 statement. 'We extend our deepest heartfelt condolences to the families of those who were lost and all those who have been affected by this tragic event.'
The Independent
6 days ago
- The Independent
No one killed in the Lake Tahoe boat capsizing wore a life vest, investigators say
None of the eight people killed when a boat capsized during a sudden and fierce storm last month on Lake Tahoe in California were wearing life vests, federal investigators said in an initial report released Wednesday. Four members of a family who were celebrating a birthday were among those who died when the 28-foot (8.5-meter) gold Chris-Craft vessel was inundated and flipped over amid 10-foot (3-meter) waves June 21 on the lake's western edge. Weather was mostly calm when the party of 10 left the marina around noon, but within about two hours winds were strong enough to create whitecaps, according to the preliminary report by the National Transportation Safety Board. By 2:30 p.m., as the boat was returning to shore, it began to hail and the vessel ended up sideways to the growing waves. 'The boat took on water and some of the passengers attempted to bail the water out of the boat,' the report states. 'At one point, a particularly large wave overtook the boat.' Two people were rescued immediately after it flipped over. One of the survivors was found clinging to a life vest and the other was wearing one, according to the report. Six people were found dead that afternoon and evening and two more bodies were discovered the next day. None of the people found dead had been wearing life vests, the report said. Four life vests and one life preserver ring from the boat were recovered from the accident site. Hikers on shore called 911 after witnessing the vessel capsize. No distress calls were made from the boat, the report said. Toxicology tests for alcohol and other drugs for the deceased were conducted, and results are pending, officials said. Snow was reported on the shore and a nearby weather station recorded a top wind gust of 39 mph (62 kph) at around the time of the accident shortly after 3 p.m. By 4 p.m., the weather began to clear, and the skies were cloudless again shortly before 5:30 p.m., the report said. The intensity of the thunderstorm surprised even forecasters, who had predicted rain but nothing like the squall that lashed the southern part of the lake. Drowning and other accidental deaths occur each year on the lake, but boating accidents with numerous fatalities are rare, South Lake Tahoe Police Lt. Scott Crivelli said last month. There are an average of six deaths on the lake each summer, though there were a record 15 fatalities in 2021, he said.
Associated Press
6 days ago
- Associated Press
No one killed in the Lake Tahoe boat capsizing wore a life vest, investigators say
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. (AP) — None of the eight people killed when a boat capsized during a sudden and fierce storm last month on Lake Tahoe in California were wearing life vests, federal investigators said in an initial report released Wednesday. Four members of a family who were celebrating a birthday were among those who died when the 28-foot (8.5-meter) gold Chris-Craft vessel was inundated and flipped over amid 10-foot (3-meter) waves June 21 on the lake's western edge. Weather was mostly calm when the party of 10 left the marina around noon, but within about two hours winds were strong enough to create whitecaps, according to the preliminary report by the National Transportation Safety Board. By 2:30 p.m., as the boat was returning to shore, it began to hail and the vessel ended up sideways to the growing waves. 'The boat took on water and some of the passengers attempted to bail the water out of the boat,' the report states. 'At one point, a particularly large wave overtook the boat.' Two people were rescued immediately after it flipped over. One of the survivors was found clinging to a life vest and the other was wearing one, according to the report. Six people were found dead that afternoon and evening and two more bodies were discovered the next day. None of the people found dead had been wearing life vests, the report said. Four life vests and one life preserver ring from the boat were recovered from the accident site. Hikers on shore called 911 after witnessing the vessel capsize. No distress calls were made from the boat, the report said. Toxicology tests for alcohol and other drugs for the deceased were conducted, and results are pending, officials said. Snow was reported on the shore and a nearby weather station recorded a top wind gust of 39 mph (62 kph) at around the time of the accident shortly after 3 p.m. By 4 p.m., the weather began to clear, and the skies were cloudless again shortly before 5:30 p.m., the report said. The intensity of the thunderstorm surprised even forecasters, who had predicted rain but nothing like the squall that lashed the southern part of the lake. Drowning and other accidental deaths occur each year on the lake, but boating accidents with numerous fatalities are rare, South Lake Tahoe Police Lt. Scott Crivelli said last month. There are an average of six deaths on the lake each summer, though there were a record 15 fatalities in 2021, he said.
CBS News
6 days ago
- Climate
- CBS News
NTSB releases details in Lake Tahoe boat tragedy that killed 8
Federal officials have released new details into the tragic capsizing of a boat in Lake Tahoe last month that killed eight people. On Wednesday, the National Transportation Safety Board issued its preliminary report into the June 21 incident involving the vessel Over the Moon. The 28-foot vessel overturned near D.L. Bliss State Park, on the lake's western shore. Officials said the boat was launched from Tahoe City around 10:40 a.m. that day with four adults on board, two of whom were the boat's registered owners. The operator drove the Over the Moon to two other marinas nearby and picked up six more passengers. Shortly before noon, the boat traveled about 10 miles south to Emerald Bay and was anchored there for about 1 to 1.5 hours. At the time, weather in the area was clear, with light southerly winds and an air temperature of 54 degrees Fahrenheit. The National Weather Service did not issue marine warnings or small craft advisories for Lake Tahoe that day, but the forecast indicated a slight chance of thunderstorms. With clouds increasing, the operator decided to return to the marina where he picked up the passengers around 2 p.m., officials said. After getting underway, the winds, rain and waves increased, prompting the operator to return to Emerald Bay. After about 10 minutes, he made a second attempt to return to the marina. A survivor told investigators that on their second journey 2-to-3-foot waves splashed onto the boat with the pouring rain, but no water accumulated on the deck. Winds began to increase, with marble-sized hail collecting in the boat as the waves increased to 8 to 10 feet. Some of the waves broke over the sides and bow of the boat. About an inch of water accumulated on the deck, prompting the operator to turn on the bilge pumps. The NTSB's report noted weather continuing to worsen over that time. A time-lapse camera about 1.5 miles from casualty site recorded whitecaps on the lake about 20 minutes before the boat capsized. Several minutes later, the camera captured blowing rain and mixed freezing precipitation, followed by blowing snow. Meanwhile, an automated weather station about 8 miles southeast of the site recorded winds from the north at 14 knots (16.1 mph), with a peak wind to 34 knots (39.1 mph) several minutes before the incident. Officials said at some point, Over the Moon's engine stopped, as the vessel was about 50 to 100 yards offshore. The boat ended up broadside to the waves and began to take on water. Some of the passengers attempted to bail water out. The vessel then listed to starboard, submerging the starboard aft corner, officials said. A "particularly large wave" overtook the boat at one point, officials said. One of the survivors put on a personal flotation device (PFD) and distributed the devices to everyone else on the vessel, but no one else immediately put theirs on. "Shortly after, the boat rolled over to starboard, and the passengers entered the water," the report said. The survivor told investigators that it started snowing after the boat capsized and while the people were in the water. No distressed calls were made from the boat. A group of hikers on shore witnessed the incident, which took place shortly after 2:55 p.m., and one of the hikers called 911. Eight people were recovered following the incident, including the two survivors. Six people, including the operator were pronounced dead at the scene. Officials said none of the six were wearing personal flotation devices. Of the survivors, one was wearing a personal flotation device and the other was clinging to a PFD. The bodies of the remaining two victims were found and recovered from the bottom of the lake the next day. The El Dorado County Sheriff's Office Coroner has since identified the victims: Paula Bozinovich, 71 years old, from Redwood City, CA;Terry Pickles, 73 years old, from Redwood City, CA;Joshua Antony Pickles, 37 years old, from San Francisco, CA;Peter Bayes, 72 years old, from Lincoln, CA;Timothy O'Leary, 71 years old, from Auburn, CA;Theresa Giullari, 66 years old, from Honeoye, NY;James Guck, 69 years old, from Honeoye, NY;Stephen Lindsay, 63 years old, from Springwater, NY. Josh Pickles was an executive at the food delivery company DoorDash, the company confirmed to CBS Sacramento. Following the incident, the snow continued until past 4 p.m. The weather began to clear, with cloudless skies less than 90 minutes later. The following day, a salvage company recovered the Over the Moon and the vessel was examined by the U.S. Coast Guard, NTSB investigators and party representatives. Investigators said they did not find "any evidence" of a hull leak, grounding or contact with an object. On the vessel, one PFD was found still in its plastic packaging, an infant life vest still in its packaging, an unzipped life vest stowage bag and five inflatable PFD's in stowage. Meanwhile, the NTSB has recovered electronic systems from the vessel, along with the bilge pumps and fuel filter for further examination. Toxicology tests for alcohol and drugs were conducted on the deceased. The NTSB said results are pending on the tests. The incident remains under investigation.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Warriors' Stephen Curry wows fans with deep shot at American Century Championship
The post Warriors' Stephen Curry wows fans with deep shot at American Century Championship appeared first on ClutchPoints. Golden State Warriors fans were treated to a vintage Stephen Curry viral video moment, and this one happened far from the hardwood. While competing at the American Century Championship 2025, a celebrity golf tournament in Lake Tahoe, Curry stopped mid-round to answer a fan's impromptu request. A basketball was tossed his way from the crowd, and without hesitation, he stepped aside from the golf course path, sized up a nearby hoop sitting roughly 25-30 feet away, and let it fly. The result? A smooth swish — and an eruption from the crowd. NBC Sports Bay Area captured the impressive shot and shared it on their official X (formerly Twitter) page, where it quickly went viral and lit up social media feeds. 'CURRY FROM WAY DOWNTOWN … BANG' After skipping the 2024 event due to Olympic commitments, Curry returned to Edgewood Tahoe in 2025 looking to defend his 2023 American Century Championship title. The Warriors star didn't reclaim the trophy but still delivered a strong showing, finishing fifth with 58 points under the Modified Stableford format. San Jose Sharks legend Joe Pavelski took home the 2025 title with 73 points, earning his first ACC win after runner-up finishes in 2022 and 2024. For Warriors fans, this was more than a fun video. Curry's appearance at the celebrity event served as a welcome offseason update, especially after a frustrating 2025 playoff exit and a hamstring issue that lingered into June. Seeing the franchise cornerstone healthy, confident, and in rhythm again brings relief to fans and staff alike. Even more, Curry's charisma and competitive flair bring offseason spotlight to the Warriors. His shot at the American Century Championship wasn't just a moment of levity — it was a reminder of why he's one of sports' most magnetic figures. No warm-up, no setup — just one motion, one walk-away, one swish. Related: Warriors' Stephen Curry sounds off on what's next ahead of new season with Jimmy Butler Related: Baron Davis still sees void in Warriors next generation
