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'60 Minutes' Correspondent Bob Simon Killed In Car Crash

NEW YORK (CBSLA.com) — Longtime "60 Minutes" correspondent, Bob Simon, has died, CBS News announced Wednesday. He was 73.

The media outlet said Simon, whose career spanned five decades, was killed in a car accident in New York City.

Simon was a passenger in a town car that hit the driver's side of another vehicle that was stopped at a light before slamming into the center median.

Both Simon and the driver were rushed to a hospital where Simon died.

Simon joined CBS News in 1967, initially as a reporter, in New York. He gained extensive experience in war zones, and according to the network, covered 35 overseas conflicts. Simon moved to Saigon in 1971 and London in 1972 to cover the Vietnam War.

During the inception of the Persian Gulf War, Simon was among several CBS News colleagues held in an Iraqi prison for more than one month after being captured by Iraqi forces in 1991.

"It's a terrible loss for all of us at CBS News," Jeff Fager, executive producer of "60 Minutes," said. "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."

Simon joined "60 Minutes" as a regular contributor in 1996 and earned many accolades throughout his career, including 27 Emmy Awards. Simon also earned the Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award and in April of 2014, the Special President's Lifetime Achievement award from the Overseas Press Club, according to the network.

"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.

News of Simon's death spread quickly on social media with many taking to Twitter to express their condolences.

Simon, who lived in New York City, is survived by his wife, daughter, son-in-law, and grandson.

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