Coroner Confirms 16-Year-Old Asiana Airlines Passenger Was Fatally Struck by Fire Vehicle

Update: Friday 11:30 a.m.

San Mateo County coroner Robert Foulcrault today confirmed that a fire vehicle responding to the Asiana Airlines crash site at San Francisco International Airport on July 6, struck and killed 16-year-old passenger Ye Mengyuan.
“The cause of death is listed as multiple blunt injuries that are consistent with being run over by a mobile vehicle,” Foucrault said.

He added that the girl, who was ejected from the rear of the aircraft after impact, was alive and lying on the ground when the fire vehicle struck her.

“Those inujuries she received--she was alive at the time," added Foucrault.

Foucrault and his staff met with the victim's family yesterday to discuss his findings. 

San Francisco Fire Chief Joanne Hayes-White expressed her department’s sorrow for the victim and her family.

“Our condolences and apologies to the family of Ye Mengyuan in light of the coroner’s findings of this tragic accident.”

Hayes-White said she has not yet met with the family of the deceased girl, but the department continues to reach out to them via Mayor Ed Lee’s office and the Chinese consulate in San Francisco.

"We are heartbroken—we are in the business of saving lives, and many were saved that day," said Hayes-White, who was joined by her command staff at the press conference.

The fire chief said that the investigation continues, but she believes the girl was struck by a specialized fire truck based at the airport.

"There were many vehicles in the area near the aircraft and we believe it was one of our specialized rigs at the airport, the ARFF, Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting vehicles," Hayes-White said.

Hayes-White said the role that foam played in the accident is still under investigation.

"Initial reports indicate that there was in the area in which the victim was found, a blanket of foam that was applied to suppress the fire around the aircraft, but that is still part of the investigation that is ongoing by the SFPD (San Francisco Police Department.)," Hayes-White said.

In all, three passengers died in the July 6 crash, and 180 were injured. Ye Mengyuan’s friend, 16-year-old Wang Lin Jia, died at the scene, and Chinese student, Liu Yipeng, 15, succumbed to injuries sustained in the crash nearly a week later.

Hayes-White added that the investigation by the San Francisco Police Department and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) continues and that her department is fully cooperating. 

"Every aspect of our response that day is under review and we continue to examine our strategies and procedures,” she added.