One Chinese victim in Asiana crash 'killed by vehicle'
Chinese teenager Ye Mengyuan's death consistent with motor vehicle accident, says a San Francisco county coroner
A Chinese teenager on the Asiana Airlines jet that crashed in San Francisco died from injuries sustained after being run over by a motor vehicle, most likely a fire truck at the scene, local officials said on Saturday.
Ye Mengyuan, a 16-year old girl who sat toward the rear of Flight 214, survived the Boeing 777’s crash-landing on July 6 but died from blunt force injuries consistent with being run over by an emergency response vehicle, San Mateo County Coroner Robert Foucrault and San Francisco Fire Chief Joanne Hayes-White said at a news conference.
“Obviously this is very difficult news for us,” Hayes-White said. “We’re in the business of saving lives.”
Two other Chinese girls were killed and dozens were injured in the jet crash.
San Francisco Police, who are still investigating Ye’s death, have interviewed the firefighters involved and given drug and alcohol tests, Hayes-White told reporters.
But the chief said she did not anticipate any disciplinary action against the firemen, calling Ye’s death a “tragic accident.”
Obviously this is very difficult news for us. We’re in the business of saving lives
Hayes-White said Ye was struck by at least one specialised fire-fighting vehicle deployed at San Francisco International Airport, but left open the possibility that she was hit by more than one rig.
Ye sat near the rear of the plane and was thrown onto the runway when the jet fuselage clipped the runway, airline officials and crash investigators have said.
Ye’s body was discovered prone under a blanket of foam near the airplane, the fire chief said.
Both the coroner and the fire chief said it remains unknown how Ye ended up being found near the airplane if she indeed fell out of the airplane where it first struck the runway, far from where the wreckage ultimately came to rest.
Hayes-White commended her department for its performance but said she will continue to review its policies.
“There is always room for us to evaluate and improve our response,” she said.
