2 survivors of deadly Lake Tahoe boat capsizing found wearing or clinging to life vest: NTSB
When a boat capsized on Lake Tahoe in California last month amid large waves, killing eight people on board including a DoorDash executive, the only two survivors were found wearing or clinging to a life vest, according to the National Transportation Safety Board.
The eight people killed in the incident were not wearing life vests, according to a preliminary report on the accident released by the NTSB on Wednesday.
The report details the worsening conditions on the lake, including reports of 8- to 10-foot waves, high winds and hail, that resulted in the 28-foot Chris-Craft vessel capsizing on June 21 in what the victims' family members said was "meant to be a joyful time on the lake."
"The National Weather Service had issued no marine warnings or small craft advisories for the Lake Tahoe area for the day, although the local forecast indicated a slight chance of thunderstorms," the report stated.
The outing began at approximately noon under clear skies, though about two hours after the boat went out to Emerald Bay on the western side of Lake Tahoe, the operator decided to return to the marina when clouds increased, according to the report.
"However, after getting underway, the winds, rain, and waves increased, and he decided to return to Emerald Bay," the report stated.
The operator tried to return to the marina again about 10 minutes later. Once away from Emerald Bay, a survivor told investigators that "2- to 3-foot waves splashed into the boat with the pouring rain," the report stated.
The winds started to increase, marble-sized hail began collecting in the boat and the waves swelled to 8 to 10 feet, according to the report. Water started to accumulate on the boat deck and the operator turned on the bilge pumps, the NTSB said. It started to snow in the area, and winds around that time were recorded at 14 knots, with a peak wind of 34 knots (about 40 mph), according to the report.
When the vessel was about 50 to 100 yards offshore, the engine stopped and the boat "ended up sideways" to the waves, the report said. Some of the passengers tried to bail the water out, as the boat became partially submerged, according to the report.
One of the passengers put on a life vest and distributed them to everyone else in the boat, though no one else immediately put them on, according to the report.
"Shortly after, the boat rolled over to starboard, and the passengers entered the water," the report stated. "The survivor recalled that it started snowing after the boat rolled over while the people were in the water."
No distress calls were made from the boat, according to the report.
At approximately 3 p.m., a group of hikers saw the boat capsize "after a large wave washed over it," and one of the hikers called 911, the report stated.
Another hiker and a California State Parks lifeguard helped recover the two survivors from the water, one of whom was wearing a life vest while the other was clinging to a life vest, according to the report. They were transported to a local hospital for medical treatment.
Six people, including the operator, were recovered and pronounced dead on the scene. The remaining two passengers were recovered from the lake bottom the following day, the report said.
The investigation into the accident remains ongoing, the NTSB said.
Among those killed in the incident was Josh Pickles, who spent nearly seven years working as the global head of strategic sourcing and procurement within the finance team at DoorDash.
Pickles' parents, Terry Pickles and Paula Bozinovich, and uncle, Peter Bayes, were also killed in the incident, according to his wife, Jordan Sugar-Carlsgaard.
"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," Sugar-Carlsgaard said in a statement following the incident.
