Search For Missing Folsom Lake Boaters Suspended Due To High Winds
FOLSOM (CBS13) – Dive teams have been forced to suspend search and recovery efforts for four men missing at Folsom Lake.
Vicky Waters, Deputy Director of Public Affairs for California State Parks, wrote in a release that high winds and low visibility forced dive teams to stop their efforts around 1:30 p.m. Sunday. The dive team consisted of members from California State Parks, the El Dorado Sheriff's Office and the Placer County Sheriff's Office.
"Boating can be a high-risk sport, and we do occasionally have things like this tragedy happen," said State Parks representative Richard Preston.
Authorities have identified the missing men as: 54-year-old Toby Strauch, 53-year-old Jake Jacobs, 48-year-old Jon Smith and 47-year-old James Strauch. All the men are said to be from the Sacramento region.
The men have not been seen since their boat capsized while on the main body of Folsom Lake early Saturday afternoon. The boat, described as a 35' to 40' speed boat, was recovered by park rangers.
Neighbors of James Strauch praised him as a good man and devoted father.
"He'd always help us out when we needed our car worked on or something like that. He was the first one to do it," said neighbor Zina Powning.
Witnesses initially reported that three men were on the boat at the time of the incident, Waters said. A fourth man is now confirmed to be missing.
Waters said that search efforts will begin again Monday morning.
