Bob Simon a longtime correspondent for “60 Minutes” was killed in a car accident tonight in New York City. The New York Daily News reports Simon was killed when the livery cab he was in crashed on the West Side Highway near 30th St.
Simon was a passenger in the livery cab when it rear-ended another car and slammed into a median. The News reports Simon was rushed to St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital, where he died.
Developing…
Simon reported for “60 Minutes” just this past weekend profiling “Selma” director Ava DuVernay.
Simon joined CBS News in 1967, moving to the London Bureau in 1969. He was a war correspondent in Vietnam in the early 1970s and in 1977 moved to the Tel Aviv bureau. In 1981, he moved to Washington to be State Department correspondent and returned to the Middle East in 1987. At the outset of the first Gulf War, in 1991, Simon and his crew were captured by Iraqi forces and spent 40 days in captivity. During his captivity, CBS News put together an obituary for him. They gave it to him upon his safe return.
Simon joined “60 Minutes” in 1996. His daughter Tanya Simon is a producer on the show. She and her father have worked on stories together, including a profile of snowboarder Shaun White in 2010.
Update: An emotional CBS News anchor Scott Pelley, himself a “60 Minutes” correspondent, anchored a special report at 10pmET:
We have some sad news tonight from within our CBS News family. Our “60 Minutes” colleague Bob Simon was killed this evening. It was a car accident in New York City… Bob’s daughter, Tanya, is a talented producer for “60 Minutes,” and tonight, our thoughts are with Tanya and Bob’s family and his many, many friends. Our colleague, Bob Simon of “60 minutes” was 73 years old.
PICTURED: The livery cab @60Minutes reporter Bob Simon was in. http://t.co/XtRueVOWY8 pic.twitter.com/4QfHMjpQev
— New York Daily News (@NYDailyNews) February 12, 2015
One of the great writers of a generation has passed. Bob Simon was a journalist of extraordinary courage.
— Scott Pelley (@ScottPelley) February 12, 2015
Bob Simon’s reporting spanned from Vietnam to Selma. This was his 19th season on @60Minutes. http://t.co/KJo0cer6A2 pic.twitter.com/ZAIrZked2Q — CBSN (@CBSNLive) February 12, 2015
CBS News journalist Bob Simon was a legend in his field. How tragic. RIP
— Andy Cohen (@Andy) February 12, 2015
A media week of intense news takes truly tragic turn: 60 min correspondent+respected cbs news veteran bob simon killed in car crash in NYC — Bill Carter (@wjcarter) February 12, 2015
Our hearts go out to family of @60minutes‘ Bob Simon – a journalism idol if there ever was one http://t.co/1wLOY8Oa5y pic.twitter.com/19Wq7GP8yU
— Carl Quintanilla (@carlquintanilla) February 12, 2015
Heartbreaking news about Bob Simon of @60Minutes, a brilliant writer and reporter and someone I admired deeply.
— Katie Couric (@katiecouric) February 12, 2015
A courageous, no-nonsense reporter with the touch of a poet
RIP Bob Simon
http://t.co/uIgjMqvF4D
— Candy Crowley (@CandyCrowley) February 12, 2015
Bob Simon's writing and storytelling were the best of what tv journalism can be. He leaves a huge void. My prayers are w his family and CBS
— David Gregory (@davidgregory) February 12, 2015
Bob Simon was one of the truly great reporters. I admired him so much. Just terribly sad news.
http://t.co/GvVx4JKXmm
— Campbell Brown (@campbell_brown) February 12, 2015
An incredibly poignant reminder of true bravery in network news. RIP Bob Simon http://t.co/DInXbqY5Im
— Frank Rich (@frankrichny) February 12, 2015
Amidst all the news media self-flagellation, we've lost a truly distinguished foreign reporter in @60Minutes correspondent, Bob Simon.
— David Westin (@David_Westin) February 12, 2015
.@Bob Simon, you broke our hearts with your journalism: your humanity, your courage and the sheer beauty of (cont) http://t.co/sf7QfhFchK
— Ann Curry (@AnnCurry) February 12, 2015