Angela Chao, the chief govt of a transport firm and a part of a outstanding household in American politics, was legally intoxicated when she drove right into a pond in Texas and died final month, in response to a police report launched on Wednesday, which known as the episode an “unfortunate accident.”
The report, launched by the Blanco County Sheriff’s Workplace, describes a harrowing scene on the evening of Feb. 10 as mates and deputies tried frantically to tug Ms. Chao from her Tesla, after she drove it into the pond at a household ranch in Johnson Metropolis, Texas.
Earlier that evening, Ms. Chao, 50, had dinner with a bunch of mates at a visitor lodge on the ranch, the report states. At about 11:30 p.m., the company started to return to their bedrooms or to their properties. Ms. Chao then acquired into her Tesla and reversed into the pond, the report states.
A pal advised investigators that Ms. Chao known as her at 11:42 p.m. to inform her that her automotive was within the pond and that she couldn’t get out of it. The water was rising, and Ms. Chao stated “she was going to die and said ‘I love you,’” earlier than the Tesla went underneath the water, the report states. The dialog lasted about eight minutes.
The pal then acquired right into a kayak and paddled towards the Tesla, as one other pal acquired into the water, swam to the automobile and climbed on prime of it, looking for Ms. Chao, the report states. A 3rd pal contacted 911 at 11:55 p.m. and remained on the cellphone for 11 minutes, the report states.
When legislation enforcement officers and firefighters arrived, they entered the chilly water and tried to enter the automotive, the report states. The motive force’s door window was damaged, and a deputy went underneath water and started feeling across the automotive till he discovered Ms. Chao.
Her physique was taken ashore, however emergency medical staff weren’t in a position to regain a pulse and Ms. Chao was pronounced useless at 1:40 a.m. on Feb. 11. The report says {that a} toxicology take a look at discovered that Ms. Chao had a blood alcohol focus degree of 0.233 grams per 100 milliliters, above the authorized restrict in Texas of .08 grams per 100 milliliters.
“After reviewing all of the evidence,” Ms. Chao’s loss of life was decided to be an “unfortunate accident,” the report states.
A spokesman for Ms. Chao’s father, James S.C. Chao, and the Chao household stated in a press release that Ms. Chao’s loss of life “was a terrible tragedy, and words cannot describe the family’s profound grief.”
“The family is grateful for the first responders and friends who tried so hard to save her,” the assertion stated.
Ms. Chao had since 2018 been the chair and chief govt of the Chao household’s Foremost Group, which operates a worldwide fleet of bulk provider ships.
She was a sister of Elaine Chao, who served as secretary of transportation underneath former President Donald J. Trump, in addition to secretary of labor underneath President George W. Bush. Elaine Chao is married to Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Senate Republican chief.
