Longtime “60 Minutes” correspondent Bob Simon died Wednesday night in a tragic car crash in New York City. The award-winning newsman was 73.
“Bob Simon was a giant of broadcast journalism, and a dear friend to everyone in the CBS News family. We are all shocked by this tragic, sudden loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with Bob’s extended family and especially with our colleague Tanya Simon,” said CBS News president David Rhodes. “It’s a terrible loss for all of us at CBS News,”
“It is such a tragedy made worse because we lost him in a car accident, a man who has escaped more difficult situations than almost any journalist in modern times,” said “60 Minutes” executive producer Jeff Fager.
According to the New York Police Department, Simon was riding in the backseat of a livery cab around 6:45 p.m. Wednesday evening on New York City’s West Side Highway when the car rear-ended another vehicle and crashed into a stanchion. Simon, unconscious and unresponsive, was rushed to St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital, with head and torso injuries. Soon after, the legendary CBS corespondent died. The livery cab driver was transported to another facility where he was treated for injuries to his arms and legs. Although police are investigating the accident, no arrests have been made at this time.
The former war correspondent first joined “60 Minutes” in 1996. During his 47-year career at CBS News, Simon earned more than 40 major awards, including 27 Emmys, the most ever earned by a field reporter, and four Peabody Awards. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Simon’s loved ones.
