Tragic Lake Tahoe Boating Accident Claims Eight Lives
A devastating boating accident on Lake Tahoe claimed the lives of eight individuals, all of whom were not wearing life jackets and did not make any distress calls when their vessel capsized. The incident occurred last month when a group of ten boaters set out from the California side of the lake for a celebratory day on the water, marking a 71st birthday.
The day started with ideal conditions—clear skies, gentle breezes, and rising temperatures. However, the weather took a sudden turn around 2 p.m., as whitecaps formed on the water and winds picked up, blowing fiercely from the north. Despite the initial calm, the group was caught off guard by an unexpected storm that unleashed eight-foot waves, hail, and torrential rain.
According to a preliminary report released by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the boat, named Over the Moon, was anchored at Emerald Bay when the operator decided to leave the area as the weather worsened. As they attempted to return, the conditions rapidly deteriorated, with waves and wind intensifying. Marble-sized hail began accumulating in the boat, prompting the driver to activate two bilge pumps capable of removing up to 1,100 gallons per hour.
Within minutes, the situation turned dire, with eight-foot waves, 30-knot winds, and hail engulfing the lake. The engine of the boat 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 by a large wave crashing over the side.
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 used theirs. Moments later, the boat capsized, throwing all 10 passengers into the frigid 54-degree water. A survivor later told investigators that it had begun to snow.
At around 3 p.m., a group of hikers called 911 after spotting people in the water. A hiker and a California State Parks lifeguard helped rescue the two survivors from the water—one wearing a flotation device and the other clinging to one. A massive search-and-rescue operation involving multiple agencies was 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.
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 assisted in recovering the two remaining victims. The victims of the disaster included 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, Amy Friduss and her mother, Julie Lindsay, both from New York, were treated at a hospital for hypothermia and other injuries. At the accident site, investigators recovered four life jackets and a single life ring. 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, registered in California and valued at $393,000, was equipped for 12 passengers. The preliminary report noted that no evidence of a hull breach, grounding, or collision with any object was found during the examination of the salvaged vessel.
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. 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 stated 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.”