As her Tesla was sinking in a pond simply earlier than her dying, Angela Chao referred to as her buddy she had simply had dinner with at her Blanco County, Texas, ranch and informed her she beloved her, in accordance with a newly launched incident report from the Blanco County Sheriff’s Workplace.
Chao, who was the chair and CEO of the delivery firm the Foremost Group, died within the early hours of Sunday, February 11. Chao was additionally the spouse of Jim Breyer, the enterprise capitalist founding father of Breyer Capital, and the sister of former cupboard secretary Elaine Chao, who’s married to Senate Minority Chief Mitch McConnell.
The police report from the Blanco County Sheriff’s Workplace stated Chao was having a “women’ weekend” at her ranch with a bunch of shut buddies when the incident occurred on Saturday, February 10. The group, which included distinguished feminine enterprise leaders, attended a Pitbull live performance in Austin on Friday and spent Saturday visiting the ranch, one of many ladies informed police.
The ladies had dinner that night on the visitor lodge on the property and wrapped up at round 11:30 p.m. native time, in accordance with the report, which cited dinner attendees. A number of ladies informed police they have been all in good spirits through the get-together.
Footage from cameras on the property confirmed Chao left the lodge and walked to her Tesla at round 11:37 p.m., with a blanket wrapped round her and her cellphone held to her ear, the report stated. A pond on the property was positioned between the visitor home and the primary home, in accordance with the report.
Chao, in her Tesla, reversed into and over a limestone barrier wall, getting into the water, the report stated. Video footage from cameras on the property confirmed the Tesla then floated to the middle of the pond, police stated.
At round 11:42 p.m., Chao referred to as one of many buddies she had simply had dinner with, Amber Landeau-Keinan, and calmly informed her she was within the pond, in accordance with the report. After Chao stated her ft have been underwater, her buddy informed her to get out of the automobile.
“In a relaxed voice, Chao informs Keinan she just isn’t capable of get out of the car,” the police report stated, citing an interview with Landeau-Keinan. “Chao informed Keinan the water was rising and he or she was going to die and stated ‘I like you’ to Keinan previous to the car going underwater.”
The telephone name lasted about 8 minutes, Landeau-Keinan informed an investigating officer.
One other buddy who was on the property, Victoria Garcia, acquired into the pond and swam towards the Tesla, whereas Landeau-Keinan acquired right into a kayak and paddled towards the automobile, in accordance with the report, which cited interviews with the individuals who have been current.
Landeau-Keinan and Garcia didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark from Enterprise Insider.
When legislation enforcement arrived, Chao and the Tesla had been within the water for about 21 minutes, with the car submerged about 25 yards from the shore, police stated. After a number of failed makes an attempt, responders have been capable of take away Chao from the car at about 12:56 a.m. native time. CPR was carried out, however Chao was pronounced lifeless on the scene.
A toxicology report later discovered that Chao’s blood-alcohol focus was 0.233, virtually 3 times the authorized restrict.
Breyer, Chao’s husband, stated in an emailed assertion to BI: “I’m heartbroken by this horrible tragedy. I’m so appreciative for the exceptional efforts of the various first responders in Blanco County who did all the pieces doable to save lots of my great spouse’s life.”
In an announcement offered to BI, a spokesperson for James S. C. Chao, Chao’s father, and household stated: “Angela’s passing was a horrible tragedy, and phrases can’t describe the household’s profound grief. The household is grateful for the primary responders and buddies who tried so exhausting to save lots of her.”
