Eight people were killed on the California side of Lake Tahoe when a sudden, violent storm struck without warning – unleashing 10-foot waves, pounding hail, and torrential rain that capsized their boat.
Ten boaters aboard a 27-foot gold Chris-Craft vessel set out to Lake Tahoe Saturday afternoon, eager to enjoy a sun-drenched day on the water for a birthday celebration, as reported by ABC 7 News.
But the day turned deadly when an unexpected, powerful storm exploded over the lake, capsizing their boat without warning – an apocalyptic scene captured in stomach-churning video footage.
Tragically, eight people were killed in the disaster: 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.
‘It’s the worst situation I’ve seen on the lake,’ South Lake Tahoe Mayor Tamara Wallace told the Los Angeles Times, describing it as an ‘unspeakable tragedy.’
On Saturday morning, 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.
However, around 2 pm, something shifted – 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 LA Times.
Eight lives were lost on Lake Tahoe when a sudden, violent storm struck without warning – unleashing 10-foot waves, pounding hail, and torrential rain that sparked chaos and panic on the water
Among those who lost their lives was 37-year-old DoorDash executive Josh Pickles (center), along with his parents – 73-year-old Terry Pickles (right) and 71-year-old Paula Bozinovich (left)
Terrifying video footage from the storm showed dozens of boats battling the fierce, churning waters – crashing into each other as they struggled to withstand the intense power of the waves (pictured)
From that moment, conditions rapidly deteriorated, turning a calm day into a desperate race against time and nature – as relentless waves, hurricane-force winds, snow, and hail engulfed the lake within minutes.
‘It felt like we were in a tsunami that was starting,’ Brittany Glick, who was on a pontoon celebrating a bachelorette party, told NPR. ‘I had never experienced anything like that.’
Terrifying video footage from the storm showed dozens of boats battling the fierce, churning waters – crashing into each other as they struggled to withstand the intense power of the waves.
Some vessels broke free from their moorings, while others sank or crashed into nearby piers. Several buoys were also washed ashore, according to the LA Times.
‘It was a lot of helping people,’ Wallace added, as reported by the outlet.
But before many could reach shore amid the chaos, several boats capsized, hurling passengers into the raging, churning waters.
‘We were shaken up seeing all the boats flipped,’ Glick said, as reported by NPR. ‘And being drenched in that water, we were so cold. We were shaking uncontrollably. Our feet were numb, and our toes were turning blue.’
‘That was probably one of the scariest moments I’ve had in my 30 years,’ she added. ‘The storm came in so quick. It was terrifying.’
The ten boaters set aboard a 27-foot gold Chris-Craft vessel set out to Lake Tahoe Saturday afternoon, eager to enjoy a sun-drenched day on the water to celebrate DoorDash executive Josh Pickles’ mother, Paula
Two victims – 66-year-old Theresa Giullari (right) and 69-year-old James Guck (left) were visiting from New York when they lost their lives
At around 3pm, multiple people reported seeing 10 people in the water after their boat capsized, while waves in the area at the time were around eight-feet high (pictured)
At around 3pm, multiple people reported seeing 10 people in the water after their boat capsized, while waves in the area at the time were around eight-feet high, according to a news release from the El Dorado Sheriff’s Office.
Both the sheriff’s office and the Coast Guard swiftly responded to the shores of D.L. Bliss State Park, where officials successfully rescued two people who had been aboard the ten-person boat.
Tragically, six bodies were recovered from the water shortly after capsizing. The two survivors – one of whom swam to shore – were transported to a local hospital in unknown condition, as reported by The Sacramento Bee.
The following afternoon, a seventh victim was found, and on Monday afternoon, the final missing boater was discovered deceased – bringing the death toll to eight.
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, ABC 7 reported.
Two other victims were also from California: Josh Pickles’ uncle, 72-year-old Peter Bayes, and 71-year-old Timothy O’Leary.
‘This is a terrible heartbreaking tragedy that took the lives of Joshua Pickles, his father Terry, his mother Paula, his uncle Peter as well as friends and family, all of whom were out on the lake celebrating the 71st birthday of his mother,’ Sam Singer, a family spokesperson, told ABC.
‘The family has homes in the Bay Area as well as on Lake Tahoe,’ he added. ‘They love the lake. That adds to the tragedy that has occurred.’
A nearby weather station recorded wind speeds reaching 45 mph during the disaster, while meteorologists now attribute the extreme conditions to the convergence of an unseasonal cold front and a cluster of thunderstorms
Tragically, eight people were killed in the disaster: 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
But even boaters who managed to reach shore during the storm weren’t out of danger – many suffered from hypothermia after falling into the frigid water, which remained below 60 degrees throughout the day
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.
But even boaters who managed to reach shore during the storm weren’t out of danger – many suffered after falling into the frigid water, which remained below 60 degrees throughout the day, LA Times reported.
‘There was just a massive amount of people that were in hypothermia or shock,’ Joby Cefalu, a lifelong Tahoe boater, told the outlet.
Cefalu, along with marina staff and local residents, quickly set up a makeshift triage area, working tirelessly for nearly two hours to assist at least 60 people in need.
‘I’m on the water a great deal of days of the year… I’ve been in just about every type of condition, and that was just something I’ve never seen happen so fast,’ he said.
‘It was just a tragic day on Lake Tahoe.’
The storm even caught forecasters off guard, with meteorologist Matthew Chyba of the National Weather Service in Nevada admitting, ‘We weren’t expecting it to be so strong.’
A nearby weather station recorded wind speeds reaching 45 mph during the disaster, while meteorologists now attribute the extreme conditions to the convergence of an unseasonal cold front and a cluster of thunderstorms, The Sacramento Bee reported.
Saturday’s storm, which cleared out within two hours, marks the deadliest boating incident in California since 2019.
