SAN FRANCISCO—The San Mateo County Coroner’s Office released information regarding the circumstances surrounding the death of Ye Mengyuan, 16, revealing that the young teen survived the crash landing of the Boeing 777 only to be killed by a fire department truck on the scene.
Coroner Robert Foucrault announced the results of the autopsy on Friday, July 19. According to the report, the young Asiana flight 214 passenger was alive when ejected from the plane, but was killed later on the runway due to “multiple blunt injuries that are consistent with being run over by a motor vehicle.”
The San Francisco Fire Department said that the teen was possibly covered with firefighting foam surrounding the aircraft when she was struck by the emergency vehicle.
The crash occurred when the Boeing 777 aircraft hit a sea wall as it traveled at a low altitude and low speed.
Mengyuan’s flight companion, 16 year-old Wang Linjia, died on the same day as a result of the crash at the San Francisco International Airport. Liu Yipeng, 15, died due to her critical injuries at a hospital on July 12.
The three girls, who were on their way to a summer camp inCalifornia, were traveling with a group of Chinese students and a teacher from a middle school in Jiangshan.
In a statement, San Francisco Mayor Edwin M. Lee said, “I am profoundly saddened by the involvement of a responding emergency vehicle in the death [of] 16-year-old Ye Mengyuan. On behalf of the people of San Francisco, I offer my deepest condolences and regret for her tragic death, and the deaths of her close friend Wang Linjia, and 15-year-old Liu Yipeng. Our hearts are heavy, and our thoughts and prayers continue to be with their families and friends an ocean away.”
The mayor underscored that the quick response of the San Francisco Fire Department and first responders helped save the lives of the majority of the 307 passengers and flight personnel aboard the flight. Around 180 people were injured, including two flight attendants. 83 survivors plan to sue the airline and the airplane manufacturer.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the site of the crash, and the agency’s report is expected within months.
By Alex Mazariegos
