A young girl who was critically injured in the Asiana Airlines plane crash died Friday morning from her injuries, announced San Francisco General Hospital. She is the third victim of the tragic accident that killed two other Chinese teenage girls.
The teenager had been in intensive care ever since she was taken to the hospital following the July 6 crash landing of a 777 jetliner at San Francisco International Airport.
Chinese state media identified the girl as Liu Yipeng. China News says that she was a classmate of Wang Linjia and Ye Mengyuan, the other two girls killed in the crash. They are both 16.
"I am very sad that one of the victims of the plane crash expired this morning," said Dr. Margaret Knudson, chief of surgery, in a news conference Friday afternoon. "Her parents have asked that we reveal no further information at this time. We will respect their wishes while they grieve."
She had been one of three patients in critical condition at the hospital. Two adults remain in critical condition.
Earlier Friday, police confirmed that one of the two Chinese teenagers who died in the accident was run over by a fire truck while she was covered in foam that crews had sprayed to douse the fire aboard the plane.
It wasn't clear, however, whether 16-year-old Ye Meng Yuan was already dead from injuries in the crash when she was struck by the truck, police said. Authorities were still trying to determine the cause of death.
San Mateo County Coroner Robert Foucrault plans to release autopsy results within two weeks.
The cause of the crash, which injured 181 of 307 passengers and crew, remains under investigation. NTSB Chairman Deborah Hersman has cautioned against reaching conclusions.
