A weekend outing at Frenchman Lake in eastern Plumas County ended in tragedy when a Reno woman was killed in a collision on the water, triggering a large rescue response from multiple agencies. First responders worked to revive the operator of a personal watercraft, but she was pronounced dead at the scene. The Plumas County Sheriff’s Office said alcohol is believed to be a factor, and the crash remains under investigation.
Crash Near the Boat Launch
Shortly before lunchtime, at about 11:21 a.m. on Saturday, dispatchers received a text-to-911 reporting a collision between a personal watercraft and a recreational boat near the Frenchman Lake boat launch, according to CBS Sacramento. The Plumas County Sheriff’s Office said Plumas County Boat Patrol, the U.S. Forest Service, Care Flight, Eastern Plumas Health Care Ambulance and Beckwourth Peak Fire all rushed to the scene and began life‑saving efforts. Despite those attempts, officials said the woman was pronounced dead at the lake.
Victim Identified
The Sheriff’s Office identified the victim as 47‑year‑old Sandra Ann Skender of Reno. Authorities noted that one local station used a slightly different spelling of her last name. KOLO reported her identity and noted deputies believe alcohol contributed to the crash.
Where This Happened
Frenchman Lake sits in the Plumas National Forest, north of Chilcoot and just east of the Nevada state line. The recreation area, which is popular in the warmer months, includes campgrounds and multiple boat launches that attract both boaters and personal watercraft users, according to Plumas County.
Boating Safety and Alcohol
National reports continue to show that alcohol is a leading known contributing factor in fatal recreational boating accidents, and federal agencies have leaned into enforcement and public outreach in an effort to cut down on impaired boating. A bulletin from the U.S. Coast Guard describing enforcement efforts and Operation Dry Water notes that alcohol was the top known factor in recent annual recreational boating accident reports and highlights targeted boating under the influence operations aimed at keeping waterways safer. U.S. Coast Guard.
Investigation and Next Steps
Plumas County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Sgt. Chandler Peay told CBS Sacramento that there had been no arrest as of Saturday and that there was no additional information available for release as of Monday afternoon. Investigators said the circumstances surrounding the collision remain under review, and the department has not released further details about the other vessel involved or the precise sequence of events on the water.
Detectives continue to piece together what happened at Frenchman Lake. This story will be updated as officials release more information.
