New | Parents of teenage Asiana crash victim sue San Francisco officials over ‘wrongful death’

Parents allege the responders left Chinese teen in danger, in a federal case that may strip rescuers of their immunity from liability

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The wreckage of the Asiana Flight 214 after it crashed at San Francisco airport. Photo: AP

Published: 6:00pm, 15 Aug 2014Updated: 6:32pm, 15 Aug 2014

The parents of Ye Mengyuan, a 16-year-old victim of last year’s Asiana crash in San Francisco, have launched a wrongful death lawsuit against San Francisco City and County.

The civil lawsuit was filed under both state and federal law, and seeks damages over the death of Ye, a Chinese teen who survived the July 6 crash last year – only to die after being hit by an emergency vehicle rushing to the scene, according to the coroner’s report.

The suit also names 16 individuals, including San Francisco’s fire chief Joanne Hayes-White, top officials at San Francisco International Airport, along with several emergency responders and policemen who were present at the crash site.

A federal case means emergency responders may be held liable for any death caused, even if they are exempted under California state law.

Ye Mengyuan’s death certificate says she died of “multiple blunt injuries”, but there is disagreement as to how she sustained them.

Her parents, Gan Ye and Xiao Yun Zheng, said their daughter died while lying on the runway of the airport after she was struck by two emergency vehicles.