Authorities have confirmed the identities of eight individuals killed in a tragic boating accident on Lake Tahoe, a devastating incident that occurred on June 21, 2025. The victims include high-ranking corporate professionals, retirees, and beloved family members from both California and New York.
Among those lost was 37-year-old DoorDash executive Joshua Antony Pickles of San Francisco, along with his parents, Paula Bozinovich, 71, and Terry Pickles, 73, of Redwood City. Other California victims included Peter Bayes, 72, of Lincoln, and Timothy O’Leary, 71, of Auburn. From New York, the deceased were identified as Theresa Giullari, 66, and James Guck, 69, both of Honeoye, and Stephen Lindsay, 63, of Springwater.
The group was reportedly celebrating a birthday aboard a 27-foot Chris-Craft vessel owned by Pickles when a sudden storm with high winds and massive waves capsized the boat near D.L. Bliss State Park. Emergency calls were received around 5 p.m., and first responders reported waves reaching 8 to 10 feet.
Only two individuals survived the incident, though their conditions have not been publicly disclosed. The final missing person was recovered by search teams on June 23 at 2:40 p.m., officially concluding the search effort. Agencies including the U.S. Coast Guard, California State Parks, and local fire departments participated in the recovery operation.
Family members and colleagues have begun sharing heartfelt tributes. Joshua Pickles’ wife, Jordan Sugar-Carlsgaard, who remained ashore with their 7-month-old daughter, said, “We are devastated by this tragedy. 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.”
DoorDash CFO Ravi Inukonda honored Pickles as a vital and inspiring figure at the company during his nearly seven-year tenure. He added, “We miss him deeply and will carry his memory with us always.”
O’Leary was remembered by Local 467 as a skilled retired plumber and devoted family man. Stephen Lindsay’s sister, Diane, shared on Facebook how her brother’s death had left a profound void in their lives.
The El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office extended condolences to all families involved and expressed gratitude to the agencies aiding in the emergency response.
Video footage captured by mariner Joby Cefalu documented the rapidly worsening lake conditions just before the accident. Cefalu described the northern winds as some of the most intense he had seen in decades, likening the lake conditions to extreme ocean waves.
While Lake Tahoe reeled from this maritime disaster, another tragedy unfolded just weeks earlier in Texas. On May 25, 18-year-old Ava Moore, a recent graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy Preparatory School, was fatally struck by a personal watercraft while kayaking on Lake Grapevine.
Authorities say the PWC hit Moore and fled the scene. One woman remained to speak with police, while the suspected driver, Daikerlyn Alejandra Gonzalez Gonzalez, 21, was later arrested along with her male companion, Maikel Coello Perozo, 21. Moore, who had just returned home from Colorado Springs and was set to enter the Air Force Academy Class of 2029, was remembered as a gifted student-athlete with a deep love for her country.
Her friend, Eva Love, shared a tearful tribute: “She was gonna be a four-star general. She wanted to serve her country. She loved everyone around her.”
The U.S. Air Force Academy paid tribute to Ava Moore, highlighting her leadership and infectious positivity. The Academy and Moore’s community continue to mourn a young life taken far too soon.
