1 killed, 2 missing after pontoon boat sinks in SF Bay near Alcatraz; rescue underway
A pontoon boat carrying family members sank near Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay, resulting in one death and three missing persons. Rescue operations are ongoing as authorities investigate the cause of the accident in rough waters.
Why it matters
The incident highlights the inherent dangers of maritime activities in the San Francisco Bay and the challenges of search and rescue operations in choppy conditions.
SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- One person died, three people were missing and 16 were rescued from the waters off San Francisco after a pontoon boat sank Tuesday afternoon while carrying mostly family members as part of a memorial service, authorities said.
Crews arriving on the scene near Alcatraz Island found a three-deck pontoon vessel almost fully under water with the motor still running and leaking fuel, San Francisco Fire Chief Dean Crispen said.
"The reports we've had from witnesses was that there were rough seas and the vessel began to take on water and was turned over in the bay," said Crispen.
Officials say they're still piecing together exactly what caused the three-story, 50-foot pontoon boat to sink.
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