Lake Tahoe boating tragedy leaves DoorDash executive and seven others dead

A family outing ended in tragedy as a sudden storm overturned a boat, resulting in eight fatalities.

A celebratory family weekend turned heartbreaking when DoorDash executive Josh Pickles was among eight people who died after a boat capsized in Lake Tahoe during a sudden storm.

Pickles, 37, was celebrating his mother’s 71st birthday on the water with close friends and family, including his parents, Paula Bozinovich and Terry Pickles, and his uncle. The group had rented a boat for what should have been a joyful afternoon on the lake — but strong winds and powerful waves flipped their vessel without warning.

Only two of the ten people onboard survived.

Pickles' wife, Jordan Sugar-Carlsgaard, remained on shore with their 7-month-old daughter. She’s now grieving not only her husband, but three beloved family members.

As Global Head of Strategic Sourcing at DoorDash, Pickles was widely respected and admired. Company leaders called his passing “an immeasurable loss.”

The boating tragedy is one of the worst Lake Tahoe has seen in years — a reminder of how quickly joy can turn to sorrow, even on life’s most cherished days.