Family of deputy who drowned sues Tahoe SUP shop
By Nate Gartrell, Bay Area News Group
The family of an off-duty Contra Costa sheriff’s deputy who drowned last year has sued a South Lake Tahoe paddleboard company as part of a push for increased regulations in the boating industry.
The family of Deputy Carlos Diamond Francies last week sued South Tahoe Standup Paddle, alleging the company’s employees failed to warn Francies and his friends of hazardous weather before renting them kayaks. The suit also alleges that Standup Paddle’s employees waited a half hour before attempting to rescue Francies’ sister, who was struggling to stay afloat in the lake.
In addition to the suit, Francies’ mother, Beverly Fisher, says she plans to push for new safety laws in the boat rental industry. The suit alleges that there were severe weather warnings — including a red flag warning issued by the National Weather Service — that should have alerted Standup Paddle to the potential dangers that day.
