The Coast Guard announced it ended the search Wednesday evening for three people who went missing after a pontoon boat sank in the San Francisco Bay.
The boat was carrying 20 people participating in a memorial service when it capsized in turbulent waters roughly 600 yards from Alcatraz Island on Tuesday, resulting in the death of one person, 79-year-old former Sutter County sheriff’s deputy Clifford Joseph Boisa. While most were rescued by “good Samaritans” out on the water, first responders continued the search for three victims who remain categorized as missing.
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“Suspending a search is one of the hardest parts of the job, and our condolences are with the families of all involved,” Coast Guard Capt. Jarod Toczko said in a statement revealing authorities suspended the search at sunset. “Our goal is always to bring home families’ loved ones.”
The group aboard the vessel, named Volare, was mostly family members who had gathered to scatter the ashes of a loved one. Before suspending the search for the three missing passengers, Toczko said crews searched for nearly 24 hours using 11 surface vessels and four aircraft, covering roughly 950 square nautical miles and more than 1,700 miles of search track.
“Despite that extensive effort, we have been unable to locate any survivors within the search area,” Toczko said. “Suspending an active search is one of the most difficult things we do as Coast Guard commanders. I don’t take that responsibility lightly at all.”
San Francisco Fire Department chief Dean Crispen said the initial alert had indicated a vessel was on fire but that he believes it was likely steam from the sinking boat, as investigators found no evidence of fire. Officials believe the disaster was likely sparked by volatile waters and high waves that caused the boat to roll over and sink.
Officials credited nearby fishermen and other boaters for saving lives before emergency first responders arrived to help.
“Those Good Samaritans called in this distress case initially, made us aware of it, and then rescued people from the water,” Toczko said. “You all saved lives.”
Local fishermen who aided in rescue efforts painted a ghastly picture of the scene, in comments to CBS News.
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“It was like Titanic in real life,” Justin Marceline said. “I mean, there was stuff everywhere, people were banging on the glass [windows on the boat], and there’s not much you can do except grab the people from the water that are in the water.”
John Edward Boisa, the owner of the Volare who was at the helm at the time it capsized, told the outlet that the three passengers still missing are his sister, Carol Boisa; his sister-in-law, Clifford Boisa’s wife, Jackie Boisa; and a friend he identified as Tondra.
