Authorities have released the names of the eight people who died in a tragic boating accident on Lake Tahoe on June 21. The El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office identified the victims on June 24, following a major recovery operation. The group had been on a 27-foot Chris-Craft boat that capsized during a sudden storm near D.L. Bliss State Park, catching everyone by surprise.
Among the victims was 37-year-old Joshua Antony Pickles, a DoorDash executive from San Francisco. He was on board with his parents—71-year-old Paula Bozinovich and 73-year-old Terry Pickles—both from Redwood City. Also killed were Peter Bayes, 72, of Lincoln; Timothy O’Leary, 71, of Auburn; Theresa Giullari, 66, and James Guck, 69, of Honeoye, New York; and Stephen Lindsay, 63, of Springwater, New York.
Out of the ten people on board, only two survived. Their identities have not been made public. The final victim was found on June 23, bringing the search to an end. Investigators believe the boat flipped after being hit by powerful winds and waves during the fast-moving storm.
The Sheriff’s Office offered its deepest sympathies to the families and thanked the many agencies involved in the rescue and recovery, including the U.S. Coast Guard and California State Parks. The local community is grieving the unexpected loss of eight lives, and officials are urging boaters to be extra cautious as summer storms become increasingly unpredictable.