A birthday boat party on Lake Tahoe ended in horror after a sudden storm capsized a 27-foot Chris-Craft boat, killing 8 of the 10 people aboard. The group had gathered to celebrate a friend’s birthday near D.L. Bliss State Park when fierce weather swept through the area without warning.
Among the victims was Joshua Antony Pickles, 37, an executive at DoorDash, who was aboard with his parents Paula and Terry. The others included friends from California and New York, all of whom were enjoying the summer getaway before the lake turned deadly.
According to the U.S. Coast Guard, winds hit 30 knots and waves reached up to 10 feet around 5 p.m., shortly before the emergency calls began flooding in. Video footage taken by a nearby boat captain captured the chaos moments before the boat overturned.
Two people survived the capsizing and were treated at the scene, though their condition remains unclear. After two days of coordinated efforts, all the bodies were recovered by teams from California State Parks, local fire crews, and the Coast Guard.
Officials are now investigating whether the boat had life jackets on board and if weather warnings were issued in time.
This is a stark reminder: even the calmest waters can turn deadly — and a day meant for celebration can change forever in seconds.