Clifford Joseph Boisa, a 79-year-old former reserve deputy sheriff from Sutter County, has been identified as the individual who died after a pleasure boat capsized in San Francisco Bay near Alcatraz Island. The incident occurred on Tuesday afternoon when the three-level recreational vessel, carrying 20 people, sank. The Sutter County Sheriff's Office confirmed Boisa's service as a reserve deputy sheriff beginning in 1987.
As of Wednesday, three passengers remain missing, prompting the U.S. Coast Guard and local agencies to conduct an extensive search of the bay. Sixteen other individuals were rescued, with three requiring hospitalization. The passengers were reportedly family members gathered for a memorial service that involved scattering a loved one's ashes in the bay.
San Francisco Fire Chief Dean Crispin reported that crews were dispatched around 3:35 p.m. local time after receiving reports of a vessel fire approximately 600 yards off Alcatraz Island. Upon arrival, first responders found that the boat had capsized and was mostly submerged, with only the upper deck visible. The boat's engine was still running, and fuel was leaking into the bay.
One person was located in the water, while others were found inside the vessel's top compartment. The cause of the sinking has not yet been determined, but officials noted that strong summer winds and rapidly changing conditions in San Francisco Bay can create dangerous boating situations.
Commercial fishermen who assisted in the rescue described a chaotic scene as passengers attempted to escape the capsized vessel. The Coast Guard and San Francisco Fire Department are continuing their search efforts using various resources, including boats, helicopters, and thermal imaging.
The vessel had departed from the area near San Francisco's St. Francis Yacht Club, and the investigation into the cause of the sinking is ongoing. Boisa's family has not yet provided a comment.