A powerful and unexpected thunderstorm overturned a 27-foot Chris-Craft boat near D.L. Bliss State Park , tragically claiming the lives of eight of its ten passengers.
Winds reaching 35 mph and waves up to 8 feet, far stronger than forecasted, struck just after 3 p.m. Coast Guard and El Dorado County Sheriff’s deputies found two survivors in the 45°F water and rushed them to a hospital, while the remaining eight were recovered over the next few days as search efforts concluded .
Among the deceased were four members of a Northern California family—a 37‑year‑old DoorDash executive, his parents (ages 73 and 71), and his 72‑year‑old uncle—who had gathered aboard to celebrate a birthday. The other four victims were friends, aged between 63 and 71, from California and New York .
Rescue teams, assisted by divers, recovered six bodies Saturday, a seventh Sunday evening, and the final victim Monday afternoon. Authorities confirmed that the storm formed and intensified rapidly, catching boaters and officials off guard .
This marks one of Lake Tahoe’s deadliest boating incidents in recent history; typically the lake sees around six boating-related deaths each summer, though the record reached 15 in 2021 .
Investigations are ongoing to determine precise causes and whether life jackets were in use. Authorities urge caution for boaters, emphasizing the region’s unpredictable weather and advising better preparedness.
With input from AP News
