One dead, two missing after Alcatraz pontoon boat capsizes

A three-level pontoon boat carrying 19 people capsized off Alcatraz Island on Tuesday afternoon, leaving one person dead and two missing. Sixteen others were rescued. San Francisco Fire Chief Dean Crispen said the vessel was reported on fire about 600 yards from the coast at 3:35 p.m. PDT. Responders found no evidence of a fire. Police marine units arrived to find people in the water and others trapped inside the top compartment. One person was severely injured and transported to Gashouse Cove Marina, where they were pronounced dead. Three of the 16 rescued were taken to California Pacific Hospital with impact injuries from falling off the boat. Crispen spoke with survivors who remained on shore. "They're incredibly upset," he said. "They're aware that there's some serious injuries here. They're concerned about their mates and they went out on the bay with and, obviously, we're going to take good care of them here." A search involving 11 vessels was underway for the two missing people. "We are going to be continuing for hours to make sure we find these two people if possible," Crispen said. Authorities believe the boat launched from a local yacht club. That remains under investigation. It was unclear whether those aboard were wearing life vests. All appeared to be adults. A dog that accompanied them died in the incident. Alcatraz, a former island prison, is a tourist attraction that sees about 1.2 million visits a year, according to the National Park Service.