Preliminary cause of death consistent with drowning, police say, for three girls found in sunken Wisconsin boat

Operator turned vessel into the wind as storm struck with winds of 90 to 100 mph

Authorities said the 47-year-old operator of the boat attempted to seek safe harbor as conditions on the lake rapidly deteriorated and, after failing to do so, turned the vessel into the wind as his training instructed him, according to the Lake Geneva Police Department.

Two large waves broke over the boat’s bow, causing the vessel to take on water and list to one side, the department said. A third wave forced it to roll over and capsize. Officials said its occupants were thrown into the water and the boat then quickly sank.

All six adults aboard were rescued, along with one child — a 12-year-old boy. Authorities on Monday identified the survivors as a 75-year-old man, a 73-year-old woman, a 49-year-old woman, a 46-year-old man, a 44-year-old woman and the boy. The boat’s occupants were from Batavia and Wheaton, Illinois, and Fontana, Wisconsin, police said.

The severe storm struck the area at about 12:18 p.m. CDT Friday, according to the city, causing widespread power outages and damage throughout the region. City emergency staff responded to more than 100 calls for service during the initial period of the storm. The storm also caused a number of other boats to capsize, prompting the deployment of responders to rescue people from the water, all of whom were saved except for the three girls, per police.

Divers located the three children inside the boat, which had sunk to 32 feet. Divers freed the children and brought them to the surface, where emergency personnel performed lifesaving measures as they were transported to local medical facilities, the police department said in a statement.

“Despite these exhaustive efforts, all three children were later pronounced deceased,” the police department said.

The Geneva Lake Law Enforcement Agency said it “extends its deepest, most heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and everyone affected by this heartbreaking tragedy.”

All four children aboard were wearing properly fitted life jackets, officials said.

The Lake Geneva Police Department withheld the names of the victims and survivors out of respect for the families.

Lake Geneva is located near the Wisconsin-Illinois border and about 50 miles southwest of Milwaukee.