Angela Chao, the billionaire sister-in-law of Sen. Mitch McConnell, died last month after she was drunk and accidentally crashed her Tesla into a pond on a Texas ranch, police said.
The discovery, detailed in a report released Wednesday by the Blanco County Sheriff’s Office, shows Chao’s blood-alcohol level was low when he reversed his car into a pond during a three-point turn. It is said to be nearly three times the state’s legal standard.
A sheriff’s office investigation determined Chao’s Feb. 10 death was an “unfortunate accident,” the report said.
The tragedy comes as Mr. Chao, former CEO of dry bulk transportation giant Foremost Group, was traveling to a sprawling 4,500-acre estate in the Texas Hill Country with seven girlfriends for a celebratory weekend. It happened while I was on private property.
After enjoying dinner at the property’s guesthouse, the 50-year-old decided to take a short drive to her on-site property in her Tesla Model X SUV around 11:37 p.m.
The video showed her “staggering toward her car,” the report said.
Minutes later, she backed up the embankment and sank into the pond just meters from the guesthouse, causing her to panic and frantically call a friend.
One of Chao’s friends, Amber Keinan, told detectives that Chao called her at 11:42 p.m. to say her car had fallen into a pond and she was trapped inside. The two continued to talk on the phone for eight minutes as the car slowly sank until it was completely submerged.
“Before the car submerged, Mr. Chao told Mr. Keinan that the water was rising and that he was dying, and he told Mr. Keinan, “I love you,”” police said in the report.
Police said Keinan was kayaking while other friends swam frantically to the car to help. Someone called 911 around 11:55 p.m. and remained on the phone with police for 11 minutes, the report said.
Police arrived as Chao’s friends screamed and tried to free her from the vehicle, which was about 25 meters from the shoreline, police said. They were able to pry open the driver’s side window, and the deputy reached out and grabbed Chao’s hand.
Emergency services pulled her from the car and brought her to shore, where she was pronounced dead at 1:40 a.m. on February 11.
According to a police report, Chao’s blood alcohol level at the time of his death was 0.233 grams per 100 milliliters, nearly three times the legal limit in Texas of 0.08.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the ranch where Chao died is owned by a company connected to Chao’s husband, Jim Breyer. Jim Breyer is a venture capitalist and co-owner of the Boston Celtics with an estimated net worth of $2.9 billion.
Mr. Chao’s sister, Elaine Chao, who is married to Mr. McConnell, served as secretary of labor under President George W. Bush and secretary of transportation under President Donald Trump.
“When written in Chinese, Angela’s name sounds like the characters for peace and prosperity,” Angela’s father, James S.C. Chao, said shortly after her death, according to a report by the Associated Press. This was said in a statement. “Her absence leaves a void not only in our hearts, but also in the Asian American community.”
