Seven people were rescued after a sudden storm hit the southeastern Wisconsin lake during the Fourth of July weekend.
LAKE GENEVA, WI — Three children died Friday after a privately owned motorboat carrying 10 people capsized and sank on Geneva Lake during a fast-moving storm, authorities said.
The deaths turned a busy holiday weekend on one of Wisconsin’s best-known resort lakes into a large emergency response. Six adults and one child were rescued from the water, while crews searched for three missing children near Big Foot Beach. The Geneva Lake Law Enforcement Agency and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources are jointly investigating the capsizing.
Authorities said the boat was on the lake Friday afternoon when severe weather moved across the area and quickly made conditions dangerous. The recreational motorboat was carrying six adults and four children and was trying to return to safety as the storm worsened. Investigators said the vessel was hit by severe wind and waves, took on water, capsized and sank. Walworth County Undersheriff Tom Hausner said emergency crews were already handling storm calls when dispatchers learned people were in the water. “The city of Lake Geneva police boat, along with Geneva Lake Law Enforcement Agency, responded with their boats, and seven people were rescued from the water,” Hausner said at a news conference. He said three people were not able to be rescued.
The three missing children were later found in the lake after what officials described as an intensive search. First responders began lifesaving measures immediately after the children were recovered and continued care while they were taken to local medical facilities. All three children were later pronounced dead. Officials said all four children on the boat were wearing life jackets when they entered the water. Authorities had not released the names of the children or other people on the boat pending family notifications. The exact sequence of events before the vessel took on water remains under investigation, including how far the boat was from shore, how quickly the weather changed and whether any mechanical or operational factors played a role.
The capsizing happened as a powerful storm system moved through Walworth County, downing trees, knocking out power and blocking roads with debris. Lake Geneva Mayor Todd Krause declared an emergency after the storm damaged buildings and left parts of the city without electricity. One person suffered minor injuries after being hit by a falling tree, officials said. Hausner said deputies responded to numerous 911 calls from people trapped, injured or seeking help, but some responders were slowed by downed trees and power lines. Hospitals in the area also received a high number of storm-related patients, and some facilities went on diversion because of the volume of injuries.
Geneva Lake, about an hour southwest of Milwaukee, draws boaters and visitors from Wisconsin, Illinois and other states, especially around summer holidays. Local officials said Walworth County’s population can nearly double during holiday weekends, adding pressure to roads, emergency crews and lake patrols. Big Foot Beach, where crews searched after the capsizing, sits along the eastern side of Geneva Lake in the city of Lake Geneva. The storm also disrupted Fourth of July events across parts of the Midwest, where heavy rain, wind damage and power outages forced some communities to cancel or delay fireworks and other gatherings.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the Geneva Lake Law Enforcement Agency will review the fatal incident as part of the joint investigation. Authorities said no additional details were immediately available for release. Investigators are expected to examine weather conditions, witness accounts, emergency response records and the boat itself if it is recovered or inspected. No charges had been announced. The inquiry could take days or longer, depending on recovery work, interviews and any reports from medical examiners or state boating officials.
Witnesses and residents described a sudden change in conditions as wind swept across the lake and holiday crowds took shelter. Local television footage showed rescue boats and emergency crews working near the shoreline after the storm passed. Officials said the response involved local police, the Geneva Lake Law Enforcement Agency, fire and medical crews, state officials and mutual aid from nearby agencies. Hausner said the storm created a difficult scene across the county at the same time crews were responding to the lake. “Our hearts and prayers go out to the families,” he said, referring to those killed and others injured during the storm.
The investigation remained active Monday, July 6, with the children’s identities still withheld by authorities. The next public update is expected after family notifications and further review by local and state investigators.
Author note: Last updated July 6, 2026.