A tragedy struck on Lake Tahoe as eight family members and friends perished when their boat capsized in a sudden storm during a birthday celebration. The incident, which occurred on June 21, has left the community reeling as they grapple with the loss of lives. The El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that the group had gathered for a 71st birthday celebration for Paula Bozinovich, a respected member of the Redwood City community.
The victims included Bozinovich, 71, and her husband, Terry Pickles, 73, both of Redwood City, California; their son, Joshua Antony Pickles, 37, a San Francisco resident and DoorDash executive; and Peter Bayes, 72, of Lincoln, California, a close family relative. The group also included four family friends: Timothy O’Leary, 71, of Auburn, California; Theresa Giullari, 66, and James Guck, 69, both of Honeoye, New York; and Stephen Lindsay, 63, of Springwater, New York.
The weather conditions were initially calm, with clear skies and mild temperatures. However, a powerful storm swept across Lake Tahoe, causing wind speeds to reach 30 knots and swells as high as eight feet. The boat capsized just before 3 p.m., tossing all ten occupants into the frigid waters of the lake. Two individuals, both wearing life jackets, were rescued and transported to a local hospital. However, the remaining eight did not survive the incident.
Emergency response teams from multiple jurisdictions, including North Tahoe Fire, California State Parks, Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, and the United States Coast Guard, launched a massive search-and-rescue operation. Advanced divers and specialized teams such as the Wilderness Finder Search Dog Teams played a crucial role in the search and recovery efforts. Six bodies were recovered on the day of the incident, with the remaining two found in the days that followed, with the final recovery made on Monday afternoon.
The El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office emphasized the importance of weather awareness and life jacket use in preventing such tragedies. BM1 Justin Smith, executive petty officer of Coast Guard Station Lake Tahoe, stated that the most common mistake boaters make is not being aware of the forecasted weather. He also noted that life jackets being worn continue to be the primary factor in survivability during such incidents.
Joshua Pickles’ wife, Jordan Sugar-Carlsgaard, expressed her anguish at the loss of her husband, describing him as ‘a cherished colleague and beloved friend whose energy and compassion will be deeply missed.’ The couple, who married in 2023, both worked at tech companies in San Francisco. Josh worked at DoorDash, and Jordan at Airbnb. The loss of the couple, who had just welcomed a seven-month-old daughter, has left their families and friends in shock and mourning.
Officials are now urging boaters to remain vigilant about weather conditions and to adhere to safety protocols to prevent similar tragedies in the future. The incident serves as a grim reminder of the dangers of water activities in the Tahoe Basin, where weather can change rapidly and conditions can become perilous without warning.