Last body found after powerboat capsized on Lake Tahoe, authorities say
RENO, NV — The body of the last missing person from a 27-foot powerboat that capsized on Lake Tahoe during a sudden storm has been found, authorities said on June 23, bringing the death toll to eight.
The El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office received reports of a capsized boat in South Lake Tahoe on June 21. "Callers indicated that approximately 10 individuals were in the water near the vessel, with reported wave heights reaching 8 feet," the sheriff's office said in a post on social media.
The Coast Guard Station Lake Tahoe sent a response crew to assist California State Parks and the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office in the search. The boat capsized near D.L. Bliss State Park, in South Lake Tahoe, California.
Six bodies were recovered on June 21, and a seventh body was found on June 22, authorities said. The last body was recovered from the lake around 2:40 p.m. local time on June 23, according to the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office.
Two people were rescued and taken to local hospitals on June 21.
"There are no more unaccounted persons from this tragic event," the sheriff's office said on social media. "The search and recovery efforts have been concluded. The victim identifications will be released when all notifications have been made."
The sheriff's office said in a post that the first 6 victims recovered were adults. No information was released about the two survivors or the two victims who were recovered in the last 24 hours.
Who are the victims?
The ages and names of the victims have not been made public. Paste BN has reached out to the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office for more information.
"The identities of the deceased will not be released until next-of-kin notifications have been made," the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office said on Facebook.
The U.S. Coast Guard is also assisting with the search. Seasonal lifeguards on nearby beaches also responded to the incident.
What happened?
The group was on board a 27-foot Chris-Craft boat in the afternoon when a storm caused up to 8-foot swells. There was no immediate information about whether any of the boaters were wearing life jackets.
It's recommended that personal flotation devices be worn while aboard motorized vessels, but California law requires them only for passengers 13 years of age and younger. Coast Guard-approved life vests must be carried and readily accessible for each passenger if the vessel is 16 feet or longer.
The National Park Service warns that water temperatures below 70 degrees can cause hypothermia within minutes. In 50-degree water, a person can survive for about 10 minutes before being unable to save themself, the park service said.
With a life jacket, someone might survive for an hour before hypothermia sets in.
The Tahoe Environmental Research Center at the University of California, Davis, reported that the alpine lake's water temperature is just over 58 degrees on June 23.
Where is Lake Tahoe?
Lake Tahoe is a freshwater lake high in the Sierra Nevada range, straddling the border between Nevada and California. It trails only the Great Lakes in total water volume and is renowned for its clarity.
The majority of its surface area, including the site of the boat accident, is in California.
Julia is a trending reporter for Paste BN. Connect with her on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and TikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at jgomez@gannett.com