New Orleans Saints' Roman Harper mourns loss of Louisiana sports reporter: 'We lost a great one'
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New Orleans Saints defensive back Roman Harper said Saturday “we lost a great one” when remembering a sports reporter who was killed in a plane crash in Louisiana earlier in the day.
Carley McCord, who as a sports reporter for WDSU-TV, was identified as one of the five victims of a plane crash in Lafayette, La. The plane was on its way to Atlanta for the Peach Bowl when it crash. McCord was the daughter-in-law of LSU coach Steve Ensminger.
CARLEY MCCORD, LOUISIANA SPORTS REPORTER, MOURNED BY COLLEAGUES AFTER PLANE CRASH
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“Man what’s tragedy today On a day where so many should be celebrating and being thankful for so much of what we have. Instead today we lost a great one. Beautiful person, amazing spirit, and wonderful soul who always kept it ‘real.’ Carley you will be missed tremendously girl,” Harper wrote.
McCord had been a Cleveland Browns reporter briefly before returning to Louisiana where she got a shot with WDSU-TV. She also freelanced for ESPN and Cox Sports Television and was a digital media reporter for the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame.
LSU'S JOE BURROW LEARNED OF CARLEY MCCORD'S PLANE CRASH DURING LIVE TV INTERVIEW
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"We are devastated by the loss of such an amazing talent and valued member of our WDSU family,” WDSU President and General Manager Joel Vilmenay said in a statement. “Carley’s passion for sports journalism and her deep knowledge of Louisiana sports, from high school to the professional ranks, made her an exceptional journalist."
WDSU anchor Gina Swanson added: “Carley certainly was a spark to our sports department. Carley added just a light to you guys.”
Also killed in the crash were Ian Biggs, 51, the plane's pilot; and passengers Robert Crisp II, 59, vice president of operations at Global Data Systems; Gretchen D. Vincent, 51, wife of Global Data Systems' president Chris Vincent; and Michael "Walker" Vincent, 15, son of Gretchen Vincent.
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A sixth passenger, Stephen Berzas, 37, was hospitalized in critical condition, according to The Advocate of Baton Rouge.
Fox News’ Brie Stimson contributed to this report.