- Angela Chao was having a “ladies’ weekend” at her Texas ranch when she died, an incident report stated.
- Chao referred to as one of many buddies she was with as her Tesla was sinking, per the report.
- In keeping with the report, two of the buddies swam and kayaked out into the pond to attempt to discover her.
As her Tesla was sinking in a pond simply earlier than her demise, Angela Chao referred to as her good friend she had simply had dinner with at her Blanco County, Texas, ranch and informed her she cherished her, in response to a newly launched incident report from the Blanco County Sheriff’s Workplace.
Chao, who was the chair and CEO of the transport 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 “ladies’ weekend” at her ranch with a gaggle of shut buddies when the incident occurred on Saturday, February 10. The group, which included outstanding 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 response to 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 principle home, in response to the report.
Chao, in her Tesla, reversed into and over a limestone barrier wall, coming 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 response to the report. After Chao stated her toes have been underwater, her good friend informed her to get out of the automobile.
“In a relaxed voice, Chao informs Keinan she shouldn’t be in a position to 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 good friend who was on the property, Victoria Garcia, received into the pond and swam towards the Tesla, whereas Landeau-Keinan received right into a kayak and paddled towards the automobile, in response to 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 regulation 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 in a position to take away Chao from the car at about 12:56 a.m. native time. CPR was carried out, however Chao was pronounced useless on the scene.
A toxicology report later discovered that Chao’s blood-alcohol focus was 0.233, nearly 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 things attainable to avoid wasting 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 not describe the household’s profound grief. The household is grateful for the primary responders and buddies who tried so exhausting to avoid wasting her.”