A family outing to spread ashes of loved one on San Francisco Bay turned into another tragedy

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — U.S. Coast Guard crews combed cold, choppy waters in and around San Francisco Bay on Wednesday for three people missing a day after a boat capsized with 20 family members and friends aboard to scatter the ashes of a loved one.

Ralph Boisa said his extended family and a few close friends were on his younger brother’s boat Tuesday afternoon to celebrate the life of his daughter who died over a decade ago and was in her 30s and loved to surf.

His older brother, Clifford, died shortly after being pulled out of the water. Sixteen others were rescued as the cabin cruiser took on water, listed heavily to one side and rolled over before sinking. Clifford’s dog also died.

The three people missing are his sister Carol, Clifford’s wife Jackie, and his daughter’s friend, he said.

“We’ve gone through a lot of tragedy over the years,” said Boisa, who lost his other daughter in 1995. He lives in Washington and couldn’t make it for the excursion.

Search will end at sundown Wednesday

U.S. Coast Guard Captain Jared S. Toczko said rescuers have cumulatively scoured 950 square nautical miles (3,260 square kilometers) and will continue searching until sundown Wednesday before ending rescue efforts.

Toczko would not dismiss the possibility that those missing could still be alive, though he also said some could...