YOUR AD HERE »

Husband, wife killed in Tahoe boat crash (updated w/ photos)

Tribune staff report
Officials examine a boat at the scene of the crash that killed a husband and wife Sunday morning on Lake Tahoe.
Photo contributed by Marlena Sloss |

A husband and wife were killed in a boating accident on Lake Tahoe early Sunday morning after crashing into a dock piling near Meeks Bay, authorities said.

Responding units from North Tahoe Fire and the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office found San Ramon, Calif., residents Vadim Raizanov, 45, and Tatiana Nikolskaya, 44, dead at the scene.

According to the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office, an initial investigation indicates the two had been driving a 19-foot-long 1997 Glastron boat at a high rate of speed when the crash occurred.



The force of the impact, which was enough to awaken a group of people sleeping on the dock at the time, split the boat’s hull in half, authorities said.

The El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office received a report of the incident at 1:40 a.m. The dock is located on the 7000 block of Emerald Bay Road.



Authorities said they are investigating the possibility that alcohol may have been a factor. Autopsies are scheduled for early this week.


Support Local Journalism

Support Local Journalism

Readers around the Lake Tahoe Basin and beyond make the Tahoe Tribune's work possible. Your financial contribution supports our efforts to deliver quality, locally relevant journalism.

Now more than ever, your support is critical to help us keep our community informed about the evolving coronavirus pandemic and the impact it is having locally. Every contribution, however large or small, will make a difference.

Your donation will help us continue to cover COVID-19 and our other vital local news.