DoorDash exec among 8 dead after boat capsizes on Lake Tahoe: Authorities
Eight people, including a DoorDash executive and his parents, were killed and two survived after a boat capsized on Lake Tahoe in California over the weekend due to a large swell, authorities said.
The vessel capsized near D.L. Bliss State Park Saturday afternoon, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. Ten people went into the water, it said.
Two people were rescued and brought to a local hospital, according to the Coast Guard. Eight others were reported dead in the wake of the incident, authorities said.
Among the dead was Josh Pickles, who spent nearly seven years working as the global head of strategic sourcing and procurement within the finance team at DoorDash. His colleagues at DoorDash are "heartbroken," according to Ravi Inukonda, the company's chief financial officer.
"Josh loved his team and was an inspiration to everyone who had the privilege of knowing him. The loss of Josh is immeasurable. We miss him deeply and will carry his memory with us always. Our thoughts and love are with his wife, his daughter, his family and all who were close to him," Inukonda said in a statement.
Pickles' parents, Terry Pickles and Paula Bozinovich, and uncle, Peter Bayes, were also killed in the attack, 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.
The 10 boaters were aboard a 27-foot gold Chris-Craft vessel. When it capsized, winds were reported to be upward of 30 knots and waves reached 6 to 8 feet, the Coast Guard said.
Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam said multiple other people were rescued on Lake Tahoe throughout the day Saturday, including those paddleboarding and on a vessel in distress.
Balaam said he was "devastated" by the deadly capsizing while warning others about the conditions on the lake, which can "change in an instant."
"The weather on Lake Tahoe can be unpredictable and it's vital to be prepared," he said in a statement.
The Coast Guard also stressed preparedness in the wake of the deadly incident.
"The Coast Guard urges all mariners, experienced or not, to always wear a life jacket, check the weather conditions before heading out on the water, file a float plan, and carry a working VHF radio to call for assistance," the Coast Guard said in a statement.
