One Dead, Three Missing After Boat Capsizes Near Alcatraz

A 50-foot cabin-cruiser pontoon boat named Volare capsized in San Francisco Bay about 600 yards from Alcatraz Island on Tuesday afternoon, killing one passenger and leaving three still missing. The vessel, which had departed from the St. Francis Yacht Club, was carrying 20 people, officials said.

San Francisco Fire Department Chief Dean Crispen reported that three passengers were hospitalized in stable condition and that a dog aboard also died. The San Francisco Police Department’s Marine Unit rescued a man found in the water, but he was pronounced dead after transport to a local hospital.

"The reports we’ve had from witnesses is that there were rough seas, and apparently the vessel began to take on water and was turned over in the bay," Crispen said.

The U.S. Coast Guard, leading the search effort, said it would continue surface and air operations through the night, using modeling software to predict possible locations of the missing mariners.

"We have modeling software that predicts the location of where our missing mariners could be. We use that very strictly to provide assets, and throughout the night we will have surface and air assets providing coverage," Lt. John Corvino said.

The incident occurred at 3:37 p.m., when the fire department received a distress call. Witnesses indicated the passengers, many of whom were family members, were participating in a memorial gathering when a wave caused the boat to take on water and capsize.