Rolled into pond

US billionaire drowns after accident in Tesla

Nachrichten
10.03.2024 13:06

An unsuccessful turning maneuver has cost the life of well-known US billionaire Angela Chao (50). She just wanted to drive a short distance in her Tesla Model X on a property in Texas, but a mishap caused the shipping company heiress and sister-in-law of the Republican leader of the Senate, Mitch McConnell, to roll into a pond and was unable to free herself from her electric car.

The tragedy had already occurred in February, but the horrific details have only now become known. Chao had rented a private ranch with friends to spend a nice weekend and celebrate the Chinese New Year. The party took place in an outbuilding of the lavish property in Hill County. Shortly before midnight, the 50-year-old made her way home to the main house, where her three-year-old son was sleeping. It would have been a short walk, but she decided to drive.

Angela Chao was the sister-in-law of the Republican majority leader in the US Senate, Mitch McConnell. (Bild: APA/Getty Images via AFP/GETTY IMAGES/Frazer Harrison)
Angela Chao was the sister-in-law of the Republican majority leader in the US Senate, Mitch McConnell.

Girlfriend had to listen to death throes on cell phone
According to a report in the "Wall Street Journal", Chao wanted to turn around in three turns, but she drove too far over the embankment and rolled into a pond. The 50-year-old tried to open the doors but failed. In her panic, she called a friend on her cell phone. She had to listen to the fight for survival in the cockpit of the Tesla.

Angela Chao with husband Jim Breyer (Bild: APA/Getty Images via AFP/GETTY IMAGES/Tommaso Boddi)
Angela Chao with husband Jim Breyer

According to the report, the emergency services, who were alerted immediately, had problems getting to the scene of the accident over the rough terrain. It took 24 minutes after the emergency call was received for the first emergency services to reach the Tesla, which had completely submerged in the meantime.

Rescue operation full of mishaps
The rescue operation was reportedly full of mishaps. A diving team that had been requested was not available for unknown reasons. The first rescue rope turned out to be too short. The rescue team was only able to free Chao from the Tesla shortly before 1 a.m., but it was too late. All resuscitation measures failed. Although it was probably a tragic accident, the police still want to clear up some doubts before the investigation, which is currently still described as a "criminal investigation", is shelved.

Chao's husband Bill Breyer, a board member of an investment firm, posted on his X page, "Our hearts are broken." James S. C. Chao, father of the deceased and founder of the New York shipping company Foremost Group, told the media: "It is with a heavy heart and deep sorrow that I announce the passing of my beloved youngest daughter, Angela Chao."

Angela's sister Elaine is married to outgoing US Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and served as Secretary of Labor under George W. Bush.

Loading...
00:00 / 00:00
Abspielen
Schließen
Aufklappen
Loading...
Vorige 10 Sekunden
Zum Vorigen Wechseln
Abspielen
Zum Nächsten Wechseln
Nächste 10 Sekunden
00:00
00:00
1.0x Geschwindigkeit
Loading
Kommentare
Eingeloggt als 
Nicht der richtige User? Logout

Willkommen in unserer Community! Eingehende Beiträge werden geprüft und anschließend veröffentlicht. Bitte achten Sie auf Einhaltung unserer Netiquette und AGB. Für ausführliche Diskussionen steht Ihnen ebenso das krone.at-Forum zur Verfügung. Hier können Sie das Community-Team via unserer Melde- und Abhilfestelle kontaktieren.

User-Beiträge geben nicht notwendigerweise die Meinung des Betreibers/der Redaktion bzw. von Krone Multimedia (KMM) wieder. In diesem Sinne distanziert sich die Redaktion/der Betreiber von den Inhalten in diesem Diskussionsforum. KMM behält sich insbesondere vor, gegen geltendes Recht verstoßende, den guten Sitten oder der Netiquette widersprechende bzw. dem Ansehen von KMM zuwiderlaufende Beiträge zu löschen, diesbezüglichen Schadenersatz gegenüber dem betreffenden User geltend zu machen, die Nutzer-Daten zu Zwecken der Rechtsverfolgung zu verwenden und strafrechtlich relevante Beiträge zur Anzeige zu bringen (siehe auch AGB). Hier können Sie das Community-Team via unserer Melde- und Abhilfestelle kontaktieren.

Kostenlose Spiele
Vorteilswelt