Angela Chao, shipping industry exec, died on Texas ranch after her car went into a pond, report says
JOHNSON CITY, Texas — Angela Chao, CEO of the shipping industry and sister-in-law of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, died last month on a Texas farm after her car fell into a pond and became submerged in water for an extended period of time, The Wall Street Journal reported .
Chao, 50, died Feb. 11 in the Texas Hill Country. A family statement at the time revealed no details about her death and authorities in Blanco County have not released any additional information, citing an ongoing investigation.
The Wall Street Journal, citing a fire department incident report, said that rescuers needed a dive team when they arrived on the scene, but one was not available. One emergency unit arrived at 12:28 a.m., about 24 minutes after being called.
Deputies requested window breaking devices on the vehicle, a Tesla, and a first responder and firefighter entered the water with rescue tools.
Chao was found unconscious after the car was pulled from the water, Blanco County Emergency Services Chief Ben Oakley said. She was pulled from the vehicle and efforts were made to revive her, the Journal reported.
Chao was the chairman and CEO of her family’s shipping company, the Foremost Group, and the president of her father’s philanthropic organization, the Foremost Foundation. A spokesperson for the family and the company declined to comment on the report on Monday.
Blanco County Fire and Emergency Services officials did not immediately return an email Monday requesting information about the accident.
Chao was the youngest of six sisters born to immigrant parents who moved to the U.S. from China in the late 1950s. Her eldest sibling, Elaine Chao, is married to McConnell and served as Secretary of Transportation under President Donald Trump and Secretary of Labor under President George W. Bush.
McConnell noted his sister-in-law’s death when he announced last month that he was stepping down as Senate Republican leader.
“As some of you may know, this has been an extremely difficult time for my family. We tragically lost Elaine’s younger sister Angela just a few weeks ago,” McConnell said on February 28. “When you lose a loved one, especially at a young age, there is a certain introspection that comes with the grieving process.”
Chao’s father, James SC Chao, said in the family statement at the time of her death that “her absence leaves a void not only in our hearts, but also in the Asian American community.”