RiSe (Kwon Ri Se) August 16 1991 – September 7 2014

Sadly, the second member of Korean pop group Ladies’ Code Rise (Kwon Ri-sae) died of complications during her surgery. The K-Pop singer has died four days after fellow band member and bestfriend, Go Eun-bi better known as EunB, was killed when the van carrying the South Korean band crashed along a wet road in Seoul last September 3, 2014.

The 23-year-old had been unconscious after undergoing hours of emergency brain surgery following Wednesday's accident, according to Polaris Entertainment agency spokeswoman Kim Eun-kyung. Doctors spent around eleven hours trying to save her, but despite their efforts, she was beyond help. Eleven horrific hours. What she suffered, what her family suffered during this time is something nobody should have to live through. One can only hope that she felt no pain. Eleven horrific hours.

Polaris Entertainment, the group’s record label, made the announcement. Here’s their full statement:

“Ladies’ Code’s RiSe has passed away to the heavens at 10:10 AM on the 7th, at 23 years of age. At the time of the accident on the 3rd, Rise obtained a big injury to her head and was moved to the hospital. She was operated on as much as possible for a long time, but she has ultimately passed away. Her parents, who came from Japan, and the label employees stayed with her at the end. We are sorry to give another sad news since the late EunB and we cannot hide our sorrow.”

Fellow band member Go Eun-bi died shortly after a van carrying the group crashed into a guard rail on a rain-drenched highway near Seoul last week. A third member, Lee Sojung, underwent surgery for facial fractures. Two others, Zuny (Kim Joo Mi) and Choi Ashley, and accompanying agency staff sustained minor injuries.

The National Forensic Service is currently investigating the accident. Inspector Lee Ho-dong said the police will call in the driver for more questioning. The van driver was treated for a minor injury before being questioned and may have been speeding on a wet road to meet a tight schedule, Mr Lee said.

Ladies’ Code was on the verge of a breakthrough and it is heartbreaking to imagine what could have been for the electro-pop group’s young members. Ladies' Code debuted last year, the group released two strong EPs, Code#01 Bad Girl and Code#02 Pretty Pretty and Billboard recently named the group one of their top K-pop artists to watch in 2014.

Most of the members of the five-piece group were already active in the entertainment industry before the band was formed. Lee Sojung was recruited after finishing in the top eight of South Korea's The Voice. Her powerhouse vocals anchored the group's first song, a swing style number called Bad Girl. The group won new artist of the year at the Gaon Chart Awards and their infectious new single, “Kiss Kiss,” was released just last month.

Since the fatal accident, the group's song, I'm Fine Thank You has gone to the top of the South Korean charts.