Timothy O’Leary dies in fatal Lake Tahoe boat accident
Fatal Lake Tahoe boat accident death of Timothy O’Leary
Timothy O’Leary, 71, of Auburn, California, has been confirmed as one of the eight individuals who lost their lives when a boat capsized amid a sudden storm on Lake Tahoe on June 21, the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office Coroner reported  .
399-0The capsize occurred near D.L. Bliss State Park, where unexpected high winds and eight-foot waves overwhelmed a 27-foot Chris‑Craft powerboat carrying ten people  . 598-0Six victims were retrieved shortly after, while O’Leary and another passenger were recovered during continuing search efforts Sunday night and Monday  .
782-0He was traveling with family members celebrating a birthday, including Paula Bozinovich, Terry Pickles, Joshua Pickles, and Peter Bayes, as well as friends Theresa Giullari, James Guck, and Stephen Lindsay—all of whom did not survive  . Two people on board were rescued and hospitalized.
1053-1South Lake Tahoe Mayor Tamara Wallace described the sudden storm as “unprecedented†in her nearly three decades of residence, with National Weather Service meteorologist Matthew Chyba noting gusts reached 35–45 mph and waves topped eight feet, catching boaters completely off‑guard  .
1423-0Witnesses captured harrowing footage of boats being tossed into docks and one another as the storm roared through. Officials stressed that the rapid escalation of conditions left virtually no time for those aboard to respond or return to safety  .
This incident ranks among the deadliest boating accidents in Lake Tahoe’s recent memory. A trip meant for celebration instead ended in profound loss, leaving communities in California and New York mourning the passengers who perished.
