Veteran "60 Minutes" Correspondent Bob Simon Killed In Car Crash

CBS News confirmed that the longtime television journalist died Wednesday night in New York. He was 73.

Bob Simon, a longtime correspondent with CBS's 60 Minutes, died in a car crash Wednesday night, CBS confirmed.

Simon, 73, also worked as a foreign correspondent in his five-decade news career.

He was a passenger in a livery cab on the West Side Highway in Manhattan Wednesday evening, the New York Post reported. The Lincoln Town Car collided with a Mercedes, the Post reported.

After hitting the Mercedes, which was stopped at a traffic light, the Lincoln crashed into metal barriers separating lanes, the Associated Press reported.

Simon was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The driver was left with injuries to his legs and arms.

The driver of the Lincoln had possibly had a heart attack, the New York Post reported.

This is the car #BobSimon was traveling in. Sadness tonight - RIP #60minutes

Starting with Vietnam, Simon worked in war zones around the world. His field reporting earned him an "unprecedented" number of awards, including 27 Emmys, according to his CBS biography.

His work took him to Northern Ireland, Portugal, Cyprus, The Falklands, the Persian Gulf, Yugoslavia, Grenada, Somalia, Haiti, and Poland. In 1987, he was named CBS's chief Middle East correspondent, and he worked out of a bureau in Tel Aviv for 20 years.

In 1991, Simon and his team were reporting on the beginning of the Gulf War when they were captured by Iraqi forces.

CBS News broke into regularly scheduled programming with a special report announcing Simon's death:

View this video on YouTube

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The tragic loss of Bob Simon is heartbreaking news for the entire CBS family. A true legend.

Journalists, meanwhile, shared messages of grief on Twitter for the loss of a man they described as legendary.

Stunned to report the death of legendary CBSNews correspondent #BobSimon

#BobSimon was the best writer, in my opinion, working in broadcast news. I have admired him from the time I was a kid watching #CBSNews

This afternoon I sat in Bob Simon's office and we bantered- "what are u working on kiddo? Are u gonna lead the show this weekend?" Such loss

RIP Bob Simon & thx for your distinguished contributions to television journalism. sudden, too-early passing reminds us of life's fragility.

CBS News correspondent Bob Simon, 1941-2015 - CBS News ... What a shame. Great reporter. http://t.co/r5GUuGixC7

Bob Simon's death is truly heartbreaking. Grew up watching him on @60Minutes gathered around the tv with my family.

RIP Bob Simon, a television storyteller without peer. http://t.co/lZ5RdXJBxD Dies in 2 car crash in Manhattan.

RIP @CBSNews Bob Simon. A giant in journalism and a very special man. There goes that mold.

Eloquent, fabled war correspondent Bob Simon dies in NYC car crash -just saw his 60 Minutes report on "Selma" http://t.co/YxjcV9C2o2

Heartbreaking news about Bob Simon of @60Minutes, a brilliant writer and reporter and someone I admired deeply.

An amazing journalist. A brilliant career. Condolences to the family of @bobsimon1 and all of Bob's extended family at @CBSNews

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