Bay Area family, DoorDash exec among 8 victims in deadly Lake Tahoe boating accident
Four members of family among 8 who died in Lake Tahoe boating birthday trip
A new father, his parents, his uncle and four family friends have been identified as the 8 victims who died when their boat capsized during a sudden storm in Lake Tahoe.
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The eight people who died in a boating accident on Lake Tahoe during powerful storms over the weekend were identified Tuesday by El Dorado County officials.
Several of the victims, who were on the boat celebrating a birthday, were from the Bay Area.
Five of the victims were from Northern California and three were from Upstate New York. Most of those on board were in their 60s and 70s, according to the coroner.
Four of the victims were in the same family.
Victims identified
The birthday trip was for Paula Bozinovich, 71, of Redwood City, family spokesperson Sam Singer said. Her husband, Terry Pickles, 73, and son, Josh Pickles, 37, of San Francisco, were also on board and died.
Singer said the family's uncle, Peter Bayes, 72, of Lincoln, Calif., was also killed.
Paula Bozinovich, Josh Pickles and Terry Pickles (left to right) / Photo courtesy of family
MORE COVERAGE: Coast Guard suspends search of 2 missing in deadly boat capsizing at Lake Tahoe
The others were friends on the boat. They were identified as Timothy O’Leary, 71, from Auburn, Calif; Theresa Giullari, 66, from Honeoye, NY; James Guck, 69, from Honeoye, NY; and Stephen Lindsay, 63, from Springwater, NY.
"We are devastated by this tragedy," Josh Pickles' widow, Jordan Sugar-Carlsgaard, said in a statement. "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."
Dig deeper:
Josh Pickles was the global head of strategic sourcing and procurement, within the finance team at DoorDash, where he worked for seven years.
Josh Pickles / LinkedIn
In a statement, DoorDash CFO Ravi Inukonda said the company is "heartbroken" about its "beloved colleague."
He said that Josh Pickles was an "inspiration" to his team, and brought a "contagious spirit that lifted those around him."
He also shared that Josh Pickles had a daughter.
Josh Pickles and Sugar-Carlsgaard were married in 2023, according to an online wedding registry.
A photographer shared photos of the pair from the wedding in Colorado.
The backstory:
The 27-foot Chris-Craft vessel capsized on Saturday evening in the lake near D.L. Bliss State Park.
The family told KTVU that the boat was owned by Josh Pickles.
The boating accident occurred during an unusual summer thunderstorm that brought strong wind gusts and forceful waves to Lake Tahoe.
Video from Saturday shows powerful storm conditions.
A total of 10 people were on the boat Saturday afternoon. Two people survived.
6 dead when boat capsizes in Tahoe: how weather may have played a part
The U.S. Coast Guard is suspending their search for two boaters after the vessel they were in capsized Saturday afternoon at Lake Tahoe. Lake Tahoe saw rough weather at the time, with 30-knot winds blowing and 6 to 8 feet swells rising, according to the Coast Guard.