Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jul 18
San Francisco Cruiser Sinks After Wave, Killing 2 and Leaving 2 Boisa Relatives Missing
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jul 18

San Francisco Cruiser Sinks After Wave, Killing 2 and Leaving 2 Boisa Relatives Missing

3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jul 18

Summary

  • Two people died and two more are presumed drowned after the three-deck cruiser Volare was struck by a wave and rapidly filled with water on its return to San Francisco.
  • Twenty family members and friends were aboard Tuesday after scattering the ashes of Maria Boisa, a relative who died by suicide in 2015, when some passengers were thrown overboard and others were trapped in the cabin.
  • Ralph Boisa said his brother Clifford died from injuries in the accident, while sister Carol and Clifford's wife Jackie were last seen inside the cabin as the boat went down.
  • The sinking deepened a string of losses for the Northern California family and added human detail to a disaster that earlier reports said happened near Alcatraz after the 49-foot vessel lost stability.

Insights

With required safety gear aboard, why did a pontoon boat fire near Alcatraz escalate into an uncontrollable, life-threatening disaster?
Beyond operator error, could a common design flaw in pontoon boats be responsible for the catastrophic fire near Alcatraz?
Since California's Boater Card is now law, did the operator's training prove insufficient to prevent this tragedy near Alcatraz?