A devastating Lake Tahoe boating disaster that killed eight people — including a DoorDash executive and several family members — may have been caused by two tragic mistakes that experts say could have been avoided.
New details released in an investigative report paint a heartbreaking picture of what happened on June 21, 2025, when DoorDash executive Josh Pickles took family and friends out on his 27-foot Chris-Craft boat, “Over the Moon,” to celebrate his mother Paula Bozinovich’s 71st birthday.
What began as a beautiful day on the lake quickly turned deadly after violent weather rolled in, creating massive waves that eventually capsized the boat near Emerald Bay in Lake Tahoe.
Pickles, 37, died alongside his parents, Terry Pickles, 73, and Paula Bozinovich, 71.
Also killed in the tragedy were Peter Bayes, 72; Timothy O’Leary, 71; Theresa Giullari, 66; James Guck, 69; and Stephen “Zippy” Lindsay, 63.
Only two people survived the horrifying accident: 40-year-old New York nurse Amy Friduss and her 65-year-old mother, Julie Lindsay.
According to police reports, they were also the only people onboard wearing life jackets.
Experts now say that decision likely saved their lives.
Doug Powell, a former marine unit commander and boating safety expert, reportedly concluded that many of the victims might still be alive had they simply worn personal flotation devices.
Investigators also believe the group made another critical mistake by entering rough waters near Emerald Bay instead of staying in calmer areas of the lake.
The report states the boat became stranded roughly 50 to 100 yards offshore after waves flooded the vessel and caused the engine to fail.
Survivor Amy Friduss reportedly told investigators she desperately tried to get everyone onboard to react faster as water poured into the boat.
“She told everyone on board to keep bailing out water, but there was no sense of urgency,” one deputy wrote in the report.
According to investigators, arguments broke out onboard as the boat drifted sideways into the waves, making the situation even worse.
Moments later, a massive wave slammed into the boat and flipped it over.
Authorities also noted that nobody onboard called 911 before the vessel capsized.
When investigators later recovered the boat, they reportedly found unused life jackets still sitting inside storage compartments.
Officials also found no evidence of mechanical failure, hull damage, or grounding that would explain the sinking.
Water temperatures that day were reportedly around 54 degrees, cold enough to quickly overwhelm people struggling in rough conditions.
Autopsy reports later revealed that six of the eight victims had alcohol in their systems at the time of the crash.
Josh Pickles’ wife, Jordan Sugar-Carlsgaard, later released an emotional statement revealing the enormous loss suffered by the family.
“We lost my loving husband, Josh Pickles, his parents, Terry Pickles and Paula Bozinovich, and Uncle Peter Bayes, as well as friends in this tragedy,” she said.
“No words can express the pain and anguish we feel.”
Sugar-Carlsgaard had stayed behind on shore that day with the couple’s seven-month-old daughter.
Meanwhile, survivor Julie Lindsay and her daughter Amy Friduss also suffered unimaginable heartbreak after losing husband and father Stephen “Zippy” Lindsay in the disaster.
According to a fundraiser created after the tragedy, Lindsay had only recently retired and was looking forward to spending more time with his family.