Tragic Fatality Involving a Tesla Transmission, Billionaire Husband Friends with Elon Musk Bereaved
Angela Chao, the CEO of a global transportation company, tragically lost her life in an incident involving a Tesla transmission. Married to billionaire venture capitalist Jim Breyer, who is friends with Elon Musk, Chao’s untimely death has left her family and friends in shock.
A Life-Changing Decision
Angela Chao, 50, made a life-changing decision to move with her husband and their 3-year-old son, James, to the sunny urban landscape of Austin, Texas. They purchased an Italian-style villa in the city center and a large ranch just a short drive to the west. The couple invited seven close friends from their days at Harvard Business School to enjoy a weekend getaway in their beautiful new home. With stunning views of Hill Country, the resort-like property featured swimming pools, a golf course, and a basketball court.
A Tragic Turn of Events
Late in the evening on February 9th, after bidding farewell to her friends, Angela Chao returned home. Wanting to be there when her young son woke up the next morning, she opted to drive her Tesla for the short, four-minute journey. Unfortunately, what followed was a heart-wrenching accident.
According to interviews with close friends, family members, and local officials, just minutes after saying her goodbyes, Chao made a distress call to a friend after encountering an issue with the Tesla transmission. The car accelerated, crashed through a retaining wall, and plunged into the water.
Within hours, Chao’s friends, the ranch manager, medical personnel, firefighters, and police rushed to the scene, desperately trying to free her from the submerged vehicle. Meanwhile, half a world away in Dubai, Chao’s husband, Jim Breyer, a risk-taking billionaire investor, received the shocking news over the phone while en route to a summit.
Escaping the Impossible
In theory, drivers have about a minute to escape a sinking vehicle. With older vehicles equipped with manual controls, individuals can easily lower the windows and make their way to safety. However, newer models like the Tesla Model X afford drivers mere seconds to lower the window before the water level becomes too high.
Automotive safety experts claim that the only way to escape such situations is to break the windows, which is nearly impossible underwater. Additionally, modern car windows are designed with multiple layers of strong, shatter-resistant glass, making them extremely difficult to break.
According to research, approximately 400 individuals die each year in North America due to vehicle submersion. Surprisingly, there are no federally mandated safety requirements for individuals caught in such accidents.
A Race Against Time
As Chao’s vehicle sank deeper into the water, status and influence no longer mattered. All those present at the scene focused solely on rescuing the woman in dire need, indifferent to her identity.
The Blanco County Fire Department’s emergency response unit arrived at the scene at 12:28 am, approximately 24 minutes after receiving the distress call from Chao’s friend. By that time, the Tesla had completely submerged. Firefighters had to dive deep into the water using specialized equipment.
A tow truck arrived, but the initial cable was not long enough to reach the car. The tow truck driver had never attempted to recover an electric vehicle from the water and feared the risk of electrocution.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, electric vehicles are specifically designed not to pose an electrocution hazard when submerged. High-voltage battery packs are completely insulated from the vehicle’s frame.
After the vehicle was finally lifted from the water, the door opened, releasing hundreds of liters of water. Despite the efforts of emergency medical personnel, Ben Oakley, the director of emergency services for Blanco County, stated that Chao showed little to no response. All attempts to revive her proved futile.
The Aftermath and Elon Musk’s Stance
Locals in the area were not acquainted with Chao or Breyer, and few were aware that the billionaire couple had a home in Blanco County. Surprisingly, Chao’s family did not blame Tesla for the tragic incident. In fact, Breyer had previously considered himself a friend of Elon Musk.
This incident follows a fatal accident involving Jeremy Banner, whose Tesla Model 3 collided with a truck on a Florida highway, claiming the lives of him and his three children. While the exact cause of the accident remains unknown, the National Transportation Safety Board’s investigation concluded that Banner may have failed to see the truck crossing the road. The Autopilot feature of his Tesla was also called into question.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has consistently asserted that Tesla vehicles are the safest electric cars on the market. He emphasizes that the Autopilot feature “…requires the active supervision of the driver and that they should not allow their vehicle to fully drive itself.” Musk affirms that using Autopilot correctly will ensure safe journeys and prevent drivers from becoming victims of unwanted accidents.
According to Gene Munster, managing partner at Loup Ventures, an investment firm, “Tesla has always defended itself, believing that humans are the bad drivers, not the technology.”
Despite these claims, the number of accidents involving Tesla vehicles continues to mount. The company has faced penalties for failing to equip their vehicles with adequate driver-assistance features, including properly activating Autopilot and ensuring drivers remain attentive while using the system.
Source: WSJ, Bloomberg
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