New details released about victims in deadly Lake Geneva boating tragedy

Some of the people on board a boat that capsized during a “sudden and severe” storm over the Fourth of July holiday weekend in Lake Geneva were from the Chicago area, authorities said. Three children were killed in the incident.

Authorities said a storm with estimated winds of 90 to 100 mph suddenly swept across the area on Friday afternoon, downing hundreds of trees, damaging buildings and “rapidly producing hazardous boating conditions.”

As the storm arrived, a recreational motorboat carrying 10 people, including six adults and four children, was trying to get to safety, but became “overwhelmed by severe wind and waves, took on water, capsized and subsequently sank.”

The boat, a privately owned 25-foot 2024 Nautique P25 vessel, was being operated by a 47-year-old male with extensive boating experience. Nine additional passengers were on board, including the following individuals:

• A 75-year-old male

• A 73-year-old female

• A 49-year-old female

• A 46-year-old male

• A 44-year-old female

• A 12-year-old male

• A 10-year-old female

• A 7-year-old female

• A 6-year-old male

Officials said Monday the occupants were residents of Batavia, Wheaton and Fontana, Wisconsin. Authorities didn’t specify where the children who died were from.

All of the adults and one child were saved by emergency personnel, but three children – ages 10, 7 and 6 years old – remained missing immediately following the incident. The missing children were later recovered from the lake and transported to area hospitals, where they were pronounced dead.

Authorities said preliminary medical findings indicated the children suffered no external injuries, and the preliminary cause of death was consistent with freshwater drowning. Investigators said all juveniles on board were wearing life jackets of proper size and fit at the time of the incident.

The circumstances surrounding the capsizing are still under investigation, authorities said, and the identities of those involved were not yet released “pending formal family notifications.”

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