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What began as a lakeside birthday celebration ended in heartbreak as a freak Sierra storm claimed the lives of eight people on Lake Tahoe, including San Francisco tech executive Joshua Antony Pickles and several members of his family.
Celebration Turns to Disaster
On June 21, 37-year-old Pickles, a senior executive at DoorDash, set out on a boat trip to mark his mother Paula Bozinovich’s 71st birthday. Alongside close family and friends, he boarded a 27-foot Chris-Craft near D.L. Bliss State Park in South Lake Tahoe. The plan was simple: sun, water, and shared joy. But by mid-afternoon, the Sierra Nevada’s notorious unpredictability turned deadly.
Around 3 p.m., a violent storm swept over the lake with gusts exceeding 45 mph and sudden 8-foot waves. The high winds disabled the boat’s engine, ultimately capsizing the vessel and throwing all 10 passengers into the icy lake waters.
Frantic Rescue Amid Chaos
Emergency crews responded swiftly after receiving distress calls, but it was already too late for most. Six people were found deceased that day. Two survivors — Amy Friduss and her mother, Julie Lindsay — were rescued and hospitalized. The final two victims were recovered in the following 48 hours.
Among the deceased were:
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Joshua Pickles, 37
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Paula Bozinovich, 71 (his mother)
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Terry Pickles, 73 (his father)
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Peter Bayes, 72 (his uncle)
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Timothy O’Leary, 71
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Theresa Giullari, 66
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James Guck, 69
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Stephen Lindsay, 63
All were longtime friends and family members from California and New York. The tragedy stunned even seasoned locals.
“We had a freak Sierra storm come through, and it was incredibly destructive,” said South Lake Tahoe Mayor Tamara Wallace, who described the weather as the worst she’d seen in nearly three decades.
A Life Cut Short
Pickles, a husband and new father, had worked at DoorDash for nearly seven years, eventually becoming the company’s Global Head of Strategic Sourcing and Procurement. Admired for his leadership and generosity, he was described by DoorDash CFO Ravi Inukonda as “an inspiration to everyone who had the privilege of knowing him.”
His widow, Jordan Sugar-Carlsgaard, confirmed the identities of the victims and thanked emergency responders. She had stayed home that day with their 7-month-old daughter, narrowly avoiding the disaster.
What Went Wrong?
Authorities say the boat was jointly owned by Pickles and his father and had been used only a few times before. The storm, though rare, was not without precedent. National Weather Service meteorologist Chris Smallcomb said the system was not initially forecast to bring dangerous lake winds — but nature had other plans.
With no formal lake-wide warning system in place, officials now face pressing questions: Was this preventable? Should new safety protocols be introduced?
Community in Mourning
The Lake Tahoe and Bay Area communities are grappling with the shock. Friends, coworkers, and loved ones are remembering not just the loss — but the lives.
“This was supposed to be a day of celebration,” said family spokesperson Sam Singer. “It became one of unimaginable sorrow.”
As funerals are planned and investigations continue, the story stands as a grim reminder of the power of nature — and the precious fragility of life.
