The US Ambassador to Thailand's teenage daughter fell 22 stories to her death early this morning, in what was apparently an accident during a party in Manhattan.

Police say that Nicole John, the 17 year-old daughter of Ambassador Eric John, had been partying with friends at meatpacking district club Tenjune, and then moved on to another party on the 25th floor of Herald Towers, a 34th street apartment building. Police say she'd been drinking, unsurprisingly. Details are hazy; but early this morning, a witness across the street saw her open the window and make her way onto a ledge outside the apartment. Says the NYT:

A witness who was at the party told them she took her shoes off before climbing out a window to a ledge outside. When officers discovered her body, they found a camera nearby, leading investigators to believe she might have stepped out to take a picture and might have believed there was a terrace outside the window.

She died instantly. The NYP says that by the time police arrived, the apartment had been cleaned and no alcohol was present.

[There was a video here]


[Video via WABC]