US Senate Minority Leader's Sister-In-Law Drowned to Death In Texas Telsa Tragedy: Report – News18

US Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s sister-in-law, Angela Chao, tragically drowned in her Tesla after the vehicle’s glass proved unbreakable when she accidentally reversed into a pond. Angela Chao, 50 died in February in a car accident, according to a family statement that did not provide any additional details.

Earlier, the Blanco County Sheriff’s Office had said that it was investigating an incident on private property that involved Chao, but it would not provide any additional information, according to The Associated Press. Chao was the chair and CEO of her family’s shipping business, the Foremost Group, and the president of her father’s philanthropic organization, the Foremost Foundation.

Nearly a month after her death, disturbing details have emerged detailing the frenzied rescue mission to save Chao. According to a fresh report by the Wall Street Journal, Chao drove her Tesla home from an evening with friends when she accidentally put the car in reverse. Due to the type of strengthened glass used in the Tesla Model X’s windows and sunroof, attempts to smash into the vehicle proved futile. Industry experts say that the type of glass used on the vehicle is nearly impossible to break underwater.

Chao, attempting a maneuver, mistakenly shifted into reverse, sending her car careening into a pond. Frantic, she called for help, but rescuers faced challenges reaching her submerged vehicle. Firefighters arrived 24 minutes later to find the car fully immersed, prompting a complex rescue operation with dive teams and specialized equipment. Despite efforts, Chao was found unresponsive after the vehicle was finally retrieved from the water. Local authorities are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding Chao’s demise.

In a letter to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, the Blanco County Sheriff’s Office said: ‘This incident was not a typical accident. “Although the preliminary investigation indicated this was an unfortunate accident, the Sheriff’s Office is still investigating this accident as a criminal matter until they have sufficient evidence to rule out criminal activity.”

Chao lived in Austin, which is about 80 kilometers east of Blanco County. She was the youngest of six sisters to immigrant parents who moved to the U.S. from China in the late 1950s. Her eldest sibling, Elaine Chao, is married to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and served as transportation secretary under President Donald Trump and labor secretary under President George W. Bush.

“Angela’s name in Chinese sounds like the characters for peace and prosperity,” her father, James S.C. Chao, said in the family statement last month. “Her absence leaves a void not only in our hearts but in the Asian-American community.” Her father was named chairman of Foremost Group following her death. Michael Lee, a former president, was named president. Chao is survived by her husband, father and four sisters.

(With agency inputs)