Angela Chao, a delivery trade CEO and sister-in-law to Senate Minority Chief Mitch McConnell, was intoxicated when she drove right into a pond and died final month in Texas, in keeping with a legislation enforcement report launched Wednesday.
The investigation by the Blanco County Sheriff’s Workplace concluded that Chao’s loss of life was an “unlucky accident” and her blood alcohol degree was practically thrice the state’s authorized restrict.
Chao, 50, died the night time of Feb. 10 after having dinner with a big group at a ranch close to Johnson Metropolis, west of Austin. The report describes a frantic scene as pals and deputies tried to tug Chao from her Tesla after she backed it into the pond close to a visitor lodge on the property.
A pal, Amber Keinan, informed detectives that Chao known as her at 11:42 p.m. and mentioned the automobile was within the water and he or she was trapped inside. The dialog lasted 8 minutes because the automobile slowly sank.
“Chao informed Keinan the water was rising and he or she was going to die and mentioned ‘I like you,’” the report says. “Chao then mentioned her goodbyes to Keinan.”
Mates swam to the automobile whereas one other paddled out with a kayak, in keeping with the report. Another person known as 911 at 11:55 p.m. and remained on the telephone for 11 minutes.
When legislation enforcement officers and firefighters arrived, they went into the water and tried to enter the Tesla, the report mentioned. They broke the window on the motive force’s facet, and a deputy felt round till he positioned Chao’s hand.
Emergency crews pulled her out of the automobile and introduced her to shore, the place she was pronounced lifeless at 1:40 a.m. Feb. 11.
A toxicology take a look at decided that Chao had a blood alcohol focus degree of 0.233 grams per 100 milliliters, above the authorized restrict in Texas of .08, the report says.
Chao was the chair and CEO of her household’s delivery enterprise, the Foremost Group, and the president of her father’s philanthropic group, the Foremost Basis. She lived in Austin, which is about 50 miles east of Blanco County.
Chao was the youngest of six sisters to immigrant dad and mom who moved to the U.S. from China within the late Fifties. Her eldest sibling, Elaine Chao, is married to McConnell and served as transportation secretary underneath President Donald Trump and labor secretary underneath President George W. Bush.
“Angela’s title in Chinese language sounds just like the characters for peace and prosperity,” her father, James S.C. Chao, mentioned in a household assertion shortly after her loss of life. “Her absence leaves a void not solely in our hearts, however within the Asian-American group.”
Her father was named chairman of Foremost Group following her loss of life. Michael Lee, a former president, turned president.
Chao is survived by her husband, father and 4 sisters.