The El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office says a total of eight people died and two people survived.
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. — The eight people who died in a boating accident at Lake Tahoe on June 21 have been identified by the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office Coroner.
The coroner identified the victims as:
- 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.
DoorDash CFO Ravi Inukonda confirmed to ABC10 that Joshua Pickles was the company’s Global Head of Strategic Sourcing and Procurement.
“We are heartbroken by the tragic accident that took the life of our beloved colleague, Josh Pickles.
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.”
A statement from Pickles’ widow, Jordan Sugar-Carlsgaard, also confirms the relationship between some of the victims.
“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.
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.
We are deeply grateful to the U.S. Coast Guard, El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office, regional law enforcement and fire agencies in Washoe and San Joaquin, local lifeguards, and all the first responders in the search and rescue effort. We are profoundly thankful for their help in the tragic situation.”
Deputies were first called about a capsized boat at D.L. Bliss State Park in South Lake Tahoe around 3 p.m. Saturday.
Callers told deputies around 10 people were in the water while wave heights were around eight feet. Initially six people were found dead, two people were rescued and taken to the hospital and two others were missing.
The first missing person was recovered Sunday night, while the second was recovered Monday afternoon.
South Lake Tahoe Mayor Tamara Wallace says she’s never seen anything like it in 28 years of living there.
“We had a freak Sierra storm come through and it was incredibly destructive,” said Wallace
Video captured by witnesses shows boats slamming into each other and the docks at Camp Richardson as the storm swept across the lake. The mayor says although the lake is no stranger to drownings, what happened Saturday is the worst she’s seen.
The National Weather Service in Reno says the weather system was unusual but not unheard of in the Sierra.
“You wouldn’t have expected those (storms) to have produced intense winds on the lake,” said meteorologist Chris Smallcomb. “But unfortunately, that’s what happened — winds gusting up to 45 mph based on the buoys that are out on the lake.”
Wallace adds that while a warning system might have been helpful, the storm’s speed and intensity would’ve left little time for the boat to get back to the marina quickly, with this particular boat being 40-45 minutes way