Family of four, including DoorDash executive, killed after Lake Tahoe boat capsizes
Four members of a family from northern California were among eight people killed over the weekend when a boat capsized on Lake Tahoe in California during a sudden and fierce thunderstorm.
Josh Pickles, 37, of San Francisco, his parents, 73-year-old Terry Pickles and 71-year-old Paula Bozinovich of Redwood City, and his uncle, 72-year-old Peter Bayes, of Lincoln, died on Saturday, according to a family statement.
The younger Pickles was an executive with DoorDash, the San Francisco Standard reported.
'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,' Josh Pickles' widow, Jordan Sugar-Carlsgaard, said in the statement on Tuesday. 'Our hearts go out to those who tragically lost their lives and the two survivors of this unexpected and deadly storm on Lake Tahoe.'
Two people were rescued immediately after the boat flipped over. Their identities and conditions were not known on Tuesday.
Ten people were onboard the 27ft (8-metre) gold Chris-Craft vessel when it capsized on Saturday afternoon near DL Bliss state park on the lake's south-west edge as the storm whipped up high waves, US coast guard officials said. Six bodies were recovered later on Saturday, a seventh was found on Sunday evening, and the eighth was located on Monday, according to the El Dorado county sheriff's office.
Also killed were Timothy O'Leary, 71, of Auburn, California; Theresa Giullari, 66, and James Guck, 69, of Honeoye, New York; and Stephen Lindsay, 63, of Springwater, New York, the coroner's office said on Tuesday.
The intensity of the thunderstorm surprised even forecasters, who had predicted rain but nothing like the squall that lashed the southern part of the lake at about 3pm, said meteorologist Matthew Chyba with the National Weather Service office in Reno, Nevada. Winds topped 35 mph (56 kph) and waves swelled up more than 8ft (2.5 metres).
'We weren't expecting it to be so strong,' Chyba said on Monday. He said temperatures in the area were far below normal for this time of year, which could have contributed to the unstable air mass.
Drowning and other accidental deaths have occurred in recent years on the lake, but boating accidents with numerous fatalities are rare. The South Lake Tahoe police department told KCRA-TV in 2022 that there are an average of six deaths on the lake each summer, though there were a record 15 fatalities in 2021.
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The Guardian
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Daily Mail
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Survivors of Lake Tahoe boating disaster credited for life-saving decision after 'freak storm' killed eight
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Daily Mail
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Lauren Sanchez and Jeff Bezos' A-list guests run for cover as pre-wedding party is hit by huge freak thunderstorm
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Thursday night's star-studded soiree was brought to an early end due to the intense downpour; Sanchez and Bezos pictured leaving the party Torrential downpours and a strong wind left guests like Kim and Khloe Kardashian (pictured) soaked as they then dashed for water taxis which had been scrambled a good 45 minutes ahead of the midnight finish time One onlooker said: 'It just goes to show you can have all the money in the world but you cant control the weather - although an Italian saying says a wet bride is a happy and lucky bride.' Kim, 44, and her younger sister Khloe, 40, struggled to stay dry in their couture gowns as their security team guided them to their designated water taxi. Kylie, who is the younger half-sister of Kim and Khloe, reacted to the weather by sharing a photo of her rain-soaked water taxi to her Instagram Story. Bride-to-be Lauren was surrounded by tuxedo-clad gentleman carrying blue umbrellas over her as she carefully stepped on to her awaiting boat. 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Along with Kim Kardashian, Ellie Goulding, Khloe Kardashian and Ivanka Trump, the star-studded guest list includes Leonardo DiCaprio, Mick Jagger, Oprah Winfrey, Orlando Bloom and Tom Brady. Earlier this week, a copy of the couple's invite was leaked with one very specific request made on behalf of the couple. They've asked guests not to buy them any presents and told them they'll be making donations to multiple charities working to stop Venice from sinking on attendees' behalf instead. Bezos is thought to be spending roughly $15 to $20 million on his and Sanchez's Italian nuptials. On Thursday, a source closely connected to the organization of the week's events revealed to exclusively that Bezos and Sanchez are already legally married. The lavish event held at the Madonna dell Orto cloisters marked the start of the billionaire couple's lavish three-day wedding in Venice, Italy, which will come to a close on Saturday 'They have been married for at least a month, more than a month. The marriage is fully legal and took place in America under American law,' the insider revealed. They added: 'When they were planning the wedding, they were clear about the fact that they were already secretly married. 'There is no application for a wedding license from the couple because it was not required. 'Whatever happens at the wedding on Friday, it will not be a wedding. Under Italian law, it will not be a wedding celebration, any vows said or rings exchanged will have no legal meaning.' The source also claimed that Jeff had personally confirmed that he and Lauren are already legally married, and that they had also signed a pre-nuptial agreement to protect his $244 billion fortune. Greenpeace and the UK-based collective Everyone Hates Elon have joined protests in Venice attempting to disrupt, or even prevent, the planned wedding celebrations of Amazon founder Bezos this week. 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Her tweed Oscar de la Rente dress looked dangerously close to bridal white in the dim lighting The dress' skirt was a darker shade of pink that gradually lightened up the bodice until it was nearly white According to one business owner who runs a kayak renting service in the area, the bridges were 'closed off' to make way for Lauren, Jeff, and their guests, leaving customers unable to reach them. 'We had a party of clients booked for Thursday night. But they were unable to get through to us because the bridges were all closed off,' they shared. 'Despite them having booking, the police wouldn't let them pass. It was party of five Americans, and they had booked an hour and a half for $100 each and so we had to cancel. 'The party involved was on a tight schedule and couldn't rebook so we will have to refund them and so we have lost money.' In addition to the bridges, the Venice local claimed that the canals were also shut gown and that police on jet skis turned them around when they tried to get through. They added that there was 'no real notification from the council that the canal would be closed.' 'I don't begrudge [Jeff and Lauren] for getting married, but this has cost us money and of all the places in Venice they had to choose the one by us,' they added. Photos also showed police presence all over the Italian city, including officers on jet skis in the canals, as water taxis went back and forth taking Lauren and Jeff's guests from their hotels to the event. The newly-minted bachelor, 47, was spotted leaving the Madonna dell Orto cloisters with a mystery woman after guests were forced to end early following a freak thunderstorm in Venice The newly-minted bachelor, 47, was spotted leaving the Madonna dell Orto cloisters with a mystery woman after guests were forced to end early following a freak thunderstorm in Venice Once inside the boat, Bloom was caught wrapping his arm around the brunette For the soiree, which was also attended by Kim Kardashian, Bloom rocked a chic beige suit and white button-up The star looked to be in high spirits despite the recent news of his and Perry's split Lauren was seen being sheltered as she exited the venue amid the rainy and stormy weather She appeared to be in good weather despite the weather woes as she exited the venue Bezos is thought to be spending roughly $15 to $20 million on his and Sanchez's Italian nuptials The chaos caused by Thursday's starry pre-wedding party reportedly forced canals to shut down and tourists to cancel reservations in Venice Around 20 activists were seen protesting hours before the pre-wedding party in St Mark's Square, the iconic heart of Venice. Protesters held signs that read, 'We are the 99 percent we have the power,' 'the planet burns,' while someone even waved an extinction rebellion flag. Sanchez and Bezos arrived in Venice for their wedding on Wednesday. Read More Awkward! Kim Kardashian poses for photo taken by sister Khloe... but there is a hilarious catch They were photographed outside the luxurious five-star Aman Hotel — where some suites cost nearly $14,000 a night — after being dropped off by a water taxi along with 50 of their 200-something guests. They hosted a drinks reception with a playlist of romantic music, blasting More Than A Woman by the Bee Gees. They then continued to play tunes like Nina Simone's I'm Feeling Good, Lovely Day by Bill Withers and Brown Eyed Girl by Van Morrison. Earlier that day, in the private garden of the hotel, which is surrounded by a 10ft brick wall, staff could be heard working to erect marquees, ready for a weekend of celebrations. They also put a VIP jetty up outside the Aman Hotel for guests to use when they arrived. Days before their Venice arrival, Sanchez and Bezos kicked off their wedding-week by throwing a rowdy foam party on board his $500million superyacht Koru on Sunday. Kim and sister Khloe Kardashian seen en route to the wedding party Their mother Kris Jenner, 69, was also invited Kendall and Kylie Jenner followed closely behind their mom and famous sisters as guests made their way to the boats, which were headed to the party venue Ivanka Trump, daughter of US President Donald Trump, waved at photographers while aboard a water taxi with husband Jared Kushner Billionaire Oprah Winfrey carefully boarded a water taxi with BFF Gayle King R&B superstar Usher was also on hand for the invite-only festivities in Venice Eligible bachelors Tom Brady and Orlando Bloom looked ready to party in white button-up shirts Kim Kardashian has also recently sparked surgery speculation as she continues to flashy her very tiny waistline As she arrived to Venice on Thursday, the TV personality showcased her sculpted midriff in a Balenciaga outfit Her slim waist was further put on display as she later also stopped by the star-studded bash in a snakeskin Versace dress that clung to her curves and had small cutouts on the front She once again gave a glimpse at her smaller frame as she attended a party later on Thursday while sporting a purple and white-colored ensemble with small cutouts on the sides Winfrey - who has lost nearly 50 pounds with the aid of one of the newly popular weight-loss drugs - was seen arriving to Venice on Thursday wearing a white sweatshirt and matching sweatpants Pictures obtained by of the lavish celebration show the loved-up couple covered in little more than soap suds as they relished in the summer sunshine. Bezos proposed to Sanchez on the same superyacht more than two years ago in 2023. While it's unclear when exactly they started dating, Lauren and Jeff's romance was first exposed by the National Enquirer in January 2019, while they were both married to their now-exes. Read More Bezos' best men! Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Brady and newly-single Orlando Bloom lead chic male guests Soon after it was revealed, the billionaire businessman divorced his wife of more than 25 years and the mother of his four children, Mackenzie Scott, while Lauren left her husband, Patrick. At the time, the bombshell report from the Enquirer claimed that Lauren and Jeff had been involved in an eight-month affair, which involved him 'whisking his mistress off to exotic destinations on his $65 million private jet, sending her raunchy messages and erotic selfies, and having secret rendezvous at palatial private estates.' The outlet said that it had tracked them 'across five states and 40,000 miles, tailing them in private jets, swanky limos, helicopter rides, romantic hikes, five-star hotel hideaways, intimate dinner dates and 'quality time' in hidden love nests.' Following the Enquirer's accusations, Jeff fired back by writing a lengthy essay to the publication's CEO, David Pecker, in which the mogul accused the company of blackmailing him. 'Rather than capitulate to extortion and blackmail, I've decided to publish exactly what they sent me, despite the personal cost and embarrassment they threaten,' he wrote. While Jeff and Lauren are set to say 'I do' in front of guests on Friday, a source revealed to this week that the couple are already married; seen in 2021 The A-list couple got engaged more than two years ago in 2023 '[After] intimate texts messages from me were published in the National Enquirer, I engaged investigators to learn how those texts were obtained, and to determine the motives for the many unusual actions taken by the Enquirer. 'We were then approached with an offer. They said they had more of my text messages and photos that they would publish if we didn't stop our investigation.' He shared alleged emails sent to him by Enquirer staffers, in which they described the racy images they had 'obtained during their newsgathering' in detail. Read More Slim Leonardo DiCaprio, 50, brings Vittoria Ceretti, 27, to Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's wedding 'If in my position I can't stand up to this kind of extortion, how many people can?' Jeff continued. 'Of course I don't want personal photos published, but I also won't participate in their well-known practice of blackmail, political favors, political attacks, and corruption. I prefer to stand up, roll this log over, and see what crawls out.' As for how Jeff and Lauren met, it was said that it was Lauren's husband Patrick who was the first to introduce the two at an Amazon studios party for the movie Manchester By the Sea in 2016. Her production team was then hired to film footage for Jeff's rocket company, Blue Origin, in 2018. 'Patrick and Lauren have socialized with Jeff Bezos and his wife for a few years, because both [former] couples have houses in Seattle,' a source told Page Six after their affair was brought to light. As for how Jeff and Lauren met, it was said that it was Lauren's husband Patrick introduced the two at an Amazon studios party for the movie Manchester By The Sea in 2016 (seen) 'Then Lauren was hired to work on one of Jeff's projects, Blue Origin, a space-launch company. She has been shooting aerial shots for Jeff.' Despite the start of their romance being shrouded in accusations of blackmail and extortion, cheating allegations, and an explosive affair, the couple did not let it defer them. In fact, after splitting from their respective partners, Jeff and Lauren didn't wait long to start flaunting their love all over the globe. They were seen for the first time together publicly in May 2019, when photographers caught them enjoying a romantic date night in New York City, and they made their first official appearance as a couple at Wimbledon that July. Since then, the couple has not tried to hide their romance, and for the last five years, they have continuously jetted off on a slew of lavish getaways together, shared tons of adorable, PDA-filled photos together on social media, gushed over one another nonstop in interviews, and attended a slew of star-studded events side by side.
