Father of Three Drowns Near Lake Tahoe’s Bonsai Rock
A San Jose father of three tragically drowned near the eastern shore of Lake Tahoe on Saturday, according to reports from NBC Bay Area. The incident occurred around 1:20 p.m. near the popular Bonsai Rock area, prompting a swift response from the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office.
Multiple search and rescue agencies, including the U.S. Coast Guard and Nevada State Parks rangers, were dispatched to the scene. They located an unresponsive adult male, later identified as 39-year-old Francisco “Cisco” Villa, a resident of San Jose. Despite efforts to revive him, Villa was pronounced dead after being transported to Sand Harbor Beach.
“He was a loving and dedicated father to his three beautiful girls,” a family statement said on his GoFundMe page. “A shattering tragedy in their tender young lives. A devastating loss to all the family and friends.”
The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the incident as an “accidental drowning,” a common tragedy in Lake Tahoe’s deep, frigid waters. The lake claims around seven lives each year, often due to cold water shock.
