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Three children died after a recreational boat capsized on Geneva Lake in southeastern Wisconsin on Friday. A fast moving storm overwhelmed the vessel as it tried to reach shore. Seven other people survived. Authorities in Walworth County are now investigating what happened on the water.
What happened on Geneva Lake
The privately owned motorboat carried 10 people, six adults and four children, according to local law enforcement. Conditions on the lake deteriorated fast on the afternoon of July 3 as strong winds and heavy waves developed. The boat tried to return to shore as the weather worsened. However, severe wind and waves overwhelmed the vessel. It took on water, capsized and sank.
Emergency responders pulled six adults and one child from the lake. Crews then learned that three children remained missing and launched an intensive search. Searchers later recovered all three from the water. Responders began lifesaving efforts at the scene and continued them on the way to area hospitals. Despite those efforts, medical staff pronounced all three children dead.
Officials confirmed that all four children aboard wore life jackets at the time. Authorities have not publicly identified the victims while families receive notification. CBS News Chicago reported the children appear to be under 13.
The Geneva Lake Law Enforcement Agency and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources are conducting a joint investigation. Officials said the circumstances remain under review, and no further details have come out. Police urged boaters to watch forecasts closely and head for safe harbor the moment threatening weather approaches. Severe weather, they noted, can develop on area waterways with little warning.
Three children died after a boat capsized on Geneva Lake, Wisconsin, during a sudden storm Friday. Authorities recovered victims and are investigating. https://t.co/yuD1lbq956 pic.twitter.com/v0fFPBQFne
— azfamily 3TV CBS 5 (@azfamily) July 4, 2026
A storm that battered the whole county
The capsizing came amid severe thunderstorms that swept across southern Wisconsin on Friday afternoon and evening. Walworth County took heavy damage. Undersheriff Tom Hausner said dispatchers received a stream of 911 calls. Callers reported fallen trees, downed power lines, damaged buildings and people trapped inside homes and businesses. Deputies responded immediately. Even so, debris blocked roads and live wires slowed their progress. Hausner warned residents to stay away from downed lines scattered across the area. His agency also requested help from nearby counties and the state.
Lake Geneva Mayor Todd Krause declared a local emergency after the storm. One person suffered minor injuries from a falling tree, and several parts of the city lost power. Meanwhile, the storms forced multiple Midwest cities to cancel holiday festivals and reschedule fireworks displays.
The timing compounded the strain on responders. Geneva Lake draws heavy tourist traffic from the Chicago area. According to Hausner, the county’s population nearly doubles during holiday weekends. The National Weather Service forecast lingering showers into Independence Day and a continued chance of storms through the weekend.
SOURCE: USA TODAY
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