Coast Guard Suspends Search After Fatal San Francisco Bay Boat Tragedy Near Alcatraz [WATCH]

The U.S. Coast Guard has suspended its search for three people who remain missing after a 49-foot cabin cruiser carrying members of an extended family capsized near Alcatraz Island during a memorial outing in San Francisco Bay, as reported by Fox News.

The vessel sank on Tuesday afternoon with 20 people aboard. Authorities said one passenger, identified as 79-year-old Clifford Joseph Boisa of Sutter County, died after being pulled from the water.

Sixteen other people were rescued, while three remain missing. Officials also confirmed that a dog aboard the vessel died.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA: A three-deck Volare boat believed to be carrying 20 people capsized and went down in the waters near Alcatraz Island on Tuesday afternoon. Passengers were scattering ashes during a memorial service when the boat sank.

One person died and three remain missing… pic.twitter.com/vbUH3sJMoe— Julia (@Jules31415) July 15, 2026

According to authorities, the family had gathered on the recreational boat to scatter the ashes of a loved one during a memorial service before the accident occurred.

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The Coast Guard announced Wednesday evening that the active search had been suspended after rescue crews spent nearly a full day searching the bay without finding additional survivors.

“Suspending an active search is one of the most difficult things we do as Coast Guard commanders,” Coast Guard Sector San Francisco Commander Capt. Jarod Toczko said during a Wednesday news conference.

“Our goal is always to bring home families’ loved ones.”

Toczko said rescue crews searched for approximately 23 hours using 11 surface vessels and four aircraft.

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During that effort, responders covered about 950 square nautical miles and more than 1,700 miles of search track before concluding there was little likelihood of locating additional survivors.

He added that the families of the missing were notified before the search was suspended.

Investigators said the boat encountered a wave that caused it to list heavily before losing stability, rolling over, and sinking into San Francisco Bay.

Emergency dispatchers initially received reports suggesting the boat may have caught fire before sinking. However, investigators later determined there was no evidence of a fire.

Toczko said investigators concluded that what witnesses believed to be smoke was likely steam coming from the sinking vessel.

Authorities said the cabin cruiser had three enclosed levels. Survivor interviews indicated that several passengers were inside the main and lower decks when the boat overturned.

Toczko said investigators believe it remains possible that some of the missing passengers became trapped inside the vessel as it sank, although he emphasized that investigators have not reached any final conclusions.

The San Francisco Fire Department said three rescued passengers were transported to local hospitals for treatment and were later released.

Thirteen additional survivors received medical evaluations at a reunification center following the rescue operation.

San Francisco Fire Chief Dean Crispen confirmed that one person and one canine died in the incident.

Officials believe the boat came to rest approximately 130 feet below the surface near the location where it capsized.

Before recovery operations can begin, authorities said crews must first locate the vessel. Once it is found, an underwater drone will be used to determine whether the boat can be safely recovered.

Officials noted that divers generally cannot safely operate at depths greater than 120 feet, making remotely operated equipment an important part of the recovery effort.

Toczko also recognized nearby boaters and fishermen who responded immediately after the boat overturned, saying their quick actions helped prevent additional fatalities before emergency crews arrived.

“Those folks saved lives,” he said.

According to investigators, the recreational vessel departed from the area near San Francisco’s St. Francis Yacht Club before traveling to Angel Island as part of the family memorial gathering.

The emergency occurred while the boat was returning across San Francisco Bay.

Federal, state, and local agencies participated in the response, and officials said the cause of the sinking remains under investigation.

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