Meeks Bay Accident: 2 Russians Die

       In an unusual late night accident on the lake, 2 Russian occupants of a private pleasure craft died at the scene in the vicinity of Meeks Bay.   Witnesses who were asleep on the pier struck by the boat said they were awaken by the sound of the crash and the force of the impact.   In the dark, they could not observe the occupants, but knew that the craft was obviously piloted by one or  more individuals.  The El Dorado County Sheriff was called and deputies responded from South Lake.  CHP also responded.   An ambulance was dispatched from North Tahoe Dist. Sta, in Homewood to assist.
     The man and a woman were pronounced dead at the scene from injuries suffered on impact.   The couple were from the Bay Area and did not observe the extant of pier into the path of the boat.   At 1:30am, visibility was measured in only a few feet, and the moon was about half phase and low in the western sky.
     Next of kin were being contacted and the US Coast Guard had dispatched a team of investigators because of Federal jurisdiction over Lake Tahoe waters.   Locals know that navigation aids on the lake are few and even with today's GPS instruments, they don't solve many location requests in the vicinity of Meeks Bay.   The accident report could be available in months.