Tesla Submerged on a Pond in Texas Ranch Caused the Death of Mitch McConnell’s Billionaire Sister-in-Law

Mar 13, 2024 10:09 PM EDT

TESLA MODEL X CHARGING — (Photo : PIXABAY/Blomst)

Foremost Group CEO and Mitch McConnell's sister-in-law, Angela Chao, sadly died in a car accident outside of Austin. Officials reported that her Tesla might have fallen into a pond, which might have caused her to drown. According to The Wall Street Journal, there are reports that she inadvertently put her Tesla in reverse, shedding light on the possible cause of the accident.

Tesla Submerged on Pond: CEO Died

In her final moments, Angela Chao, the former CEO of Foremost Group and sister-in-law of Senator Mitch McConnell, desperately reached out to her friends for assistance as her Tesla gradually descended into a pond situated on an isolated Texas ranch. This tragic incident led to the untimely passing of the 50-year-old billionaire, who inadvertently backed her car into the pond while maneuvering in a three-point turn.

The New York Post shared The Wall Street Journal's report about the driving accident. It brought attention to the frantic attempts at rescue that, sadly, were unsuccessful. An fun weekend excursion with friends turned into an agonizing ordeal.

Angela Chao invited a select group of her Harvard Business School students to spend a weekend retreat with her on a stunning 900-acre private estate nestled in the Texas Hill Country. The Journal claimed that the property's features, which included a big 10-bedroom guesthouse, a swimming pool, and horse stables, made it the ideal location for their gathering.

Following a shared dinner and festivities to mark the Chinese New Year on Friday evening, Chao departed from the guesthouse at approximately 11:30 p.m. with the intention of returning to the main residence where her son was resting.

Faced with chilly weather, she opted to use her Tesla Model X SUV for the brief four-minute journey instead of walking. Shortly thereafter, she reached out to one of her friends in a state of distress. Reports stated that during the maneuver to perform a K-turn, Chao mistakenly shifted the car into reverse instead of drive.

The car started to reverse and unintentionally skidded off an embankment, falling into a neighboring pond and rapidly sinking. Friends responded quickly to her call for help, with one brave person diving into the pond to try to save her, according to the Journal article.

Business Insider reported that the Blanco County Sheriffs informed the Austin American-Statesman that Chao may have "succumbed from being under the water." The circumstances behind Chao's Tesla ending up in the pond, however, have not yet been made public by the authorities.

This ignorance of the situation has led to people like J. The founder of Texas-based Hayman Capital Management and well-known hedge fund investor Kyle Bass questioned whether the Tesla had been compromised.

In a letter dated February 29, addressed to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and obtained by Business Insider, a Blanco County public information officer stated that, although the preliminary investigation suggested that the incident was an "unfortunate accident," the Sheriff's Office continues to investigate this as a criminal matter until sufficient evidence is gathered to rule out criminal activity.

Angela Chao

According to MYSA, 50 years old, Chao held the position of CEO at Foremost Groups, a worldwide shipping company passed down to her by her father, James S.C. Chao. According to MYSA, 50 years old, Chao held the position of CEO at Foremost Groups, a worldwide shipping company passed down to her by her father, James S.C. Chao.

She was also the wife of multibillionaire venture capitalist Jim Breyer and a loving mother to her 3-year-old son James. She was the sister of a former American official, Elaine Chao, the secretary of transportation, and sister-in-law to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.