All of the fatalities on the lake this summer have occurred under very different circumstances.  And no single reason can be given for this year’s spike in deaths.  But statistics show more boating accidents occur on the lakes of northern California than in any other part of the state, including the coast.  Petty Officer Josh Martin is with the Lake Tahoe Coast Guard Station.   

“Tahoe is deceptive … hypothermia can set in no time, and there are a lot of hazards people aren’t aware of, so yeah, they come down for their one week of recreation, and you’ve got a lot of dangers; you’ve got cold water, wind … and you got rocks …” 

Martin also says alcohol and high boat speeds create additional hazards on a lake often times crowded with inexperienced boaters.