SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – In under two hours, many lives were changed forever as a boat carrying ten people at Lake Tahoe for a birthday party turned deadly, with eight of the passengers dying in the frigid waters in the middle of an unexpected, unforecasted storm.
Just before that distress call went out to first responders, a South Lake Tahoe boating situation was unfolding. The South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD)’s Marine 1 was on the lake, helping a stranded boat with ten people on board get back to the Tahoe Keys Marina. Shannon Laney had the boat tied up to Marine 1, and since there were so many passengers on the disabled boat, they couldn’t get onto Marine 1 and stayed on their boat. At 2:40 p.m., Laney saw the storm heading to the South Shore, and his call for assistance brought the South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue’s (SLTFR) boat to help, following behind as they headed to the marina. The SLTPD dispatch center started receiving numerous calls for help at that time, from boats taking on water from the high waves to boats overturning. The boat, being guided by South Lake Tahoe’s first responders, flipped, sending all ten passengers into the water. With rescue swimmers on the fire department’s boat and a waiting battalion chief on the shore, the people were rescued and taken to safety.
As this rescue at the mouth of the main channel to the Keys was wrapping up, the deadly boat accident at D.L. Bliss was unfolding, and first responders from around Lake Tahoe were responding, including those from South Lake Tahoe, as their ten passengers were safely on land. Numerous 911 calls were received concerning multiple incidents.
Justin Cain of Mile High Fishing was in Emerald Bay with customers on board his boat at the time of the storm. While many boaters tried to leave the bay quickly, Cain tried to advise everyone to stay in the protection of the bay. He helped bring them to the dock at Vikingsholm, or close to the beach. The storm passed by, and those in the bay were safe.
Mile High Fishing owner Joby Cefalu had a group of fishermen at Deadman’s Point near Glenbrook as the storm hit. The water had been calm as they caught four fish, and Cefalu had everyone quickly secure their poles and sit down in the boat. “Safety first, fishing second,” said Cefalu.
He had instructed all on how to use the boat’s radios, along with safety equipment and measures, before this point. They stayed close to shore with exit points in sight in case they were needed. They safely made it back into the Keys, though Cefalu said he’s been in three precarious boating situations before, but this day was the worst he’d seen in his 32 years as a captain on Lake Tahoe.
Tahoe Keys Marina staff, as well as other marina staff, all jumped into action to help boats get tied up and passengers to safety. At the Keys, people were in varying states of hypothermia and needed attention to warm up in the right manner (not too quickly).
“Reaction by the staff was phenomenal,” said Cefalu of the Tahoe Keys Marina team.
June 21, 2025, is a day many will not soon forget.
“I have seen a lot of storms, but have never seen a storm like this,” said SLTFR Chief Jim Drennan of the “freak” event on June 21.
Drennan advises those recreating on Lake Tahoe to pay close attention to their surroundings as situations on the lake can change rapidly.
“Look, listen, and wear life jackets,” said the chief.
SLTFR offers free loaner life jackets to those who don’t have them. They are available at each station.
SLTPD echoed the same precautions.
“Pay attention to the weather during the day,” said SLTPD Lt. Scott Crivelli. “It can change in a minute, like we saw Saturday. Life jackets must be readily available, and those under the age of 13 must have them on at all times.”
Education and preparation are key when on Lake Tahoe, something the first responders and the Mile High Fishing team are all in agreement on.
