One dead, three missing after pontoon boat capsizes near Alcatraz

A pontoon boat carrying mostly family members for a memorial service capsized on Tuesday afternoon off San Francisco, near Alcatraz Island. The vessel was found almost fully submerged with its motor still running and leaking fuel, according to San Francisco Fire Chief Dean Crispen. One passenger, who had been rescued from the cold water, later died, and a dog on board also perished. Sixteen people were rescued and taken to Gashouse Cove Marina, while three injured passengers were hospitalized and expected to be released later that night.

Search operations for the three missing individuals continued into the night, employing divers, helicopters and rescue vessels on the western side of the Golden Gate Bridge. Crispen said officials were in "full rescue mode" and that the initial missing count had been revised from two to three after witness reports.

Captain Aaron Anfinson of the nearby boat Bass-Tub said his vessel encountered the pontoon in windy, choppy conditions after a man on a smaller craft flagged them to a boat that appeared to be on fire. By the time Anfinson arrived, the flames had extinguished but the pontoon was sinking. Crew members distributed life jackets and used a swim ladder and life ring to assist passengers, including a woman with a head injury.

Fire Lieutenant Mariano Elias noted the emergency call was received just after 3:30 p.m., about 600 yards from Alcatraz. The Coast Guard and Oakland police also participated in the rescue effort. The incident was initially reported as a fire, but investigators found no evidence of one.