(ReliableNews.org) – Angela Chao was a businesswoman, a mother to a little boy, a sister to former Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao (Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s (R-KY) wife), and was married to billionaire venture capitalist Jim Breyer. In celebration of the Chinese New Year, Angela Chao, 50, invited seven of her best girlfriends from Harvard to spend the weekend with her at a ranch in Texas. When she left the guest house to head back to the main home in her Tesla, she backed into a retention pond, got trapped in the vehicle, and drowned.
What Happened?
On March 20, new information from the Blanco County Sheriff’s Office revealed that Chao’s blood alcohol level was almost three times the legal limit when she died. Regardless, police are referring to the incident as an “unfortunate accident.” When making the announcement, the police did not indicate whether they believed her alcohol level played any role in her death. However, the tragedy is still under investigation.
Late in the evening in February, Ms. Chao decided she wanted to be at the main house when her 3-year-old woke up the next day. But as she was making the three-point turn necessary to leave the area, she accidentally reversed her Tesla into a pond. Chao immediately called her friends for help. They ran to the pond, called 911, and tried to break the glass, but it was no use. The Wall Street Journal reported that Teslas use laminated glass for safety reasons. It is especially hard to break, but that’s really the only way to escape a sinking vehicle if the windows are up since there is no longer a handle to crank. Around 350 to 400 people die every year in motor vehicle submersions.
Who Was Angela Chao?
Chao was the youngest of six sisters and one of the most powerful women in the world. She attended Harvard Business School, graduating early and at the top of her class. Ms. Chao was also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, an advisory director on the board of the Metropolitan Opera House, and spoke nearly fluent Mandarin.
She met her husband at a Metropolitan Museum of Art gala in 2011, and the two married in 2012. The power couple added little Jim to their family in 2021. Her sudden death was felt throughout her entire family. Shortly after the incident, McConnell decided to step back from Senate leadership. During his announcement, he said it was a “particularly difficult time for [his] family.”
Copyright 2024, ReliableNews.org
