Two South Carolina TV journalists killed after tree falls on SUV while on assignment

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

North Carolina WYFF News Station Employees, Mike McCormick, an anchor and Aaron Smeltzer, a photojournalist both died on Monday May 28, 2018 when a tree fell on their SUV. (WYFF via Twitter and Facebook)

Two South Carolina TV journalists on their way to an assignment were killed Monday when a large tree crushed their SUV.

Mike McCormick, a WYFF-TV news anchor, and Aaron Smeltzer, a photojournalist at the station, were covering the weather on Highway 176 in North Carolina, WYFFreported.

Officers responded to the scene at 2:30 p.m. in Polk County and found the vehicle was still running, authorities said.

Subtropical Storm Alberto has caused heavy rains in North Carolina with threats of landslides and flooding.

States such as Florida, Mississippi, and Alabama have issued emergency preparations ahead of the storm.

The two journalists were "beloved members" of the WYFF team, one of the station's anchors said in a newscast.

McCormick joined the station in 2007 and was later promoted to anchor the Sunday evening newscasts.

Smeltzer was a news veteran who joined WYFF's Spartanburg bureau in February.

North Carolina Highway Patrol is investigating the crash.