News Report:
Lake Tahoe, Calif. — A devastating boating accident on Lake Tahoe has claimed the lives of eight people, including a prominent DoorDash executive and several of his family members, authorities confirmed Tuesday.
The victims were on board a 27-foot Chris-Craft motorboat that capsized on Saturday, June 21, near D.L. Bliss State Park, when a sudden storm brought powerful winds and 8-foot waves to the lake. The boat, carrying ten passengers, sank quickly. Two people were rescued. The remaining eight were later confirmed dead after an intensive search and recovery effort involving multiple emergency agencies.
The El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office identified the victims as:
- Joshua Antony Pickles, 37, of San Francisco
- Paula Bozinovich, 71, and Terry Pickles, 73, of Redwood City
- Peter Bayes, 72, of Lincoln
- Timothy O’Leary, 71, of Auburn
- Theresa Giullari, 66, and James Guck, 69, of Honeoye, New York
- Stephen Lindsay, 63, of Springwater, New York
Family spokesperson Sam Singer confirmed the group had gathered to celebrate the birthday of Paula Bozinovich. The boat belonged to Joshua Pickles and his wife, Jordan Sugar-Carlsgaard. It had only been used twice previously before the tragic outing.
Sugar-Carlsgaard had remained onshore with the couple’s 7-month-old daughter. The couple, who married in 2023, split their time between homes in San Francisco and Lake Tahoe.
“We lost my loving husband Josh Pickles, his parents Terry Pickles and Paula Bozinovich, and Uncle Peter Bayes, as well as friends in this tragedy,” said Sugar-Carlsgaard in a statement Tuesday. “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.”
The El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office said emergency crews were dispatched around 3 p.m. Saturday after receiving reports of a capsized boat. Six bodies were recovered that evening. One victim was found on Sunday; the last was recovered Monday afternoon.
The National Weather Service said the storm was stronger than forecasted. Meteorologist Matthew Chyba noted that while rain had been expected, the conditions worsened rapidly, with wind gusts topping 35 mph and waves swelling to over 8 feet.
“We weren’t expecting it to be so strong,” Chyba said. He attributed the storm’s severity to colder-than-average temperatures and an unstable air mass.
According to Singer, water began flooding the boat after waves crashed over the side, stalling the engine and leaving the vessel unable to maneuver or escape the worsening conditions.
Joshua Pickles was a respected executive at DoorDash, serving as the global head of strategic sourcing and procurement. He joined the company in 2017 and had previously worked at Salesforce and Cisco.
“We are heartbroken by the tragic accident that took the life of our beloved colleague,” said Ravi Inukonda, DoorDash’s chief financial officer. “Josh loved his team and was an inspiration to everyone who had the privilege of knowing him. During his nearly seven years at DoorDash, he brought a contagious spirit that lifted those around him. Our thoughts and love are with his wife, his daughter, his family, and all who were close to him.”
In San Francisco’s Marina District, where the family lived, neighbors expressed disbelief. Local dog-walking business owner Rob Lewerenz recalled regularly seeing Pickles walking with his baby daughter and black Labrador.
“It hits home when it’s a neighbor,” Lewerenz said. “You don’t think it’s going to be someone you see every other day. I just can’t imagine the pain and devastation.”
Another neighbor, Jackie Fogarty, was shocked to learn of the tragedy.
“Oh my God. They have a newborn baby,” she said. “They were always considerate neighbors.”
The Sheriff’s Office offered its condolences to the families and commended the extensive effort of first responders, including the U.S. Coast Guard and local fire and law enforcement agencies from El Dorado, Washoe, and San Joaquin counties.
“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,” the department said in a statement.
Sugar-Carlsgaard also expressed her gratitude.
“We are deeply grateful to all the first responders involved in the rescue and recovery operation. Their compassion and courage brought our loved ones home.”
This boating disaster is one of the deadliest single incidents on Lake Tahoe in recent memory. While accidental drownings occur annually, officials say it is rare for a storm to claim so many lives at once.
As family members and friends across California and New York mourn the lives lost, a young widow and her infant daughter now face a future reshaped by unimaginable loss.
“We are devastated,” said Sugar-Carlsgaard. “But we are also surrounded by love, and we will honor the memory of those we lost with strength and grace.”
