The pair are identified as Mike McCormick (right) and Aaron Smeltzer (left) from American news outlet WYFF. Mr McCormick was a news anchor and Mr Smeltzer was a photojournalist.
The two have died as a result of a falling tree hitting their vehicle as they were driving down a highway. It has been concluded that the heavy rainfall must have waterlogged the tree’s soil; and this consequently caused the tree to plummet to the ground.
The death of the two journalists happened just minutes after they had interviewed Fire chief Geoff Tennant regarding the storm.
Mr Tennant declared that the death of the pair has “personally affected” him and that he feels “a sense of responsibility” for what has happened.
"It is one of those things you know is going to happen, or you can predict it may happen - you don't know when," said Mr Tennant.
WYFF, the occupational home of the Mr McCormick and Mr Smeltzer, has paid tribute to both men in their programme. Reporting on WYFF 4’s evening news, news anchor Carol Goldsmith said:
"Our news family grieves over the loss of two special journalists - and two special friends,"
Moreover, anchors from another local news station WSPA 7 have expressed their condolences.
"The journalists who died in today's crash were friends to many of us”, said the anchors.
"They were committed to their work, to this community, and while we are of course competitors on air, Mike and Aaron were our friends and they were part of our larger journalism family.”
What is Storm Alberto?
Storm Alberto has been named the first Atlantic storm of 2018 and has manifested days before the start of the American hurricane season (June 1st).
According to the US National Hurricane Centre, Alberto has currently weakened to a subtropical depression, with sustained heavy rainfall and maximum winds of 35 miles per hour.
It is expected to move into the Tennessee Valley, located in south-eastern area of the United States, on Tuesday and Wednesday.
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