A tragic boating accident on Lake Tahoe on June 21, 2025, took the lives of eight people, including a prominent DoorDash executive and his parents. The El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office released the victims’ identities on June 24, after a challenging search near D.L. Bliss State Park. The incident, caused by a sudden storm, has shaken the tech community and beyond.
Joshua Antony Pickles, 37, a San Francisco-based DoorDash executive, died alongside his parents, Paula Bozinovich, 71, and Terry Pickles, 73, both from Redwood City. The other victims were Peter Bayes, 72, from Lincoln; Timothy O’Leary, 71, from Auburn; Theresa Giullari, 66, and James Guck, 69, from Honeoye, New York; and Stephen Lindsay, 63, from Springwater, New York. Their loss is deeply felt by loved ones and colleagues.
The 27-foot Chris-Craft boat, carrying ten passengers, overturned in rough waters during an unexpected storm. Only two people survived, their names withheld. Recovery efforts ended on June 23 when the last missing person was found. Investigators say fierce winds and choppy waves likely caused the capsize, catching the group unprepared for the sudden weather shift.
The Sheriff’s Office shared heartfelt condolences and praised the efforts of teams like the U.S. Coast Guard and California State Parks, who worked tirelessly to recover the victims. The tragedy has sparked mourning in the tech world and the wider Tahoe community. Authorities are now calling for increased caution on the water, warning that unpredictable summer storms can turn a pleasant outing into a devastating loss.
