POLK COUNTY, N.C. -- WYFF televison station in Greenville, S.C., is mourning the loss of its news crew.
According to the station's website, news anchor Mike McCormick and photojournalist Aaron Smeltzer were killed after a tree fell on their SUV on Monday.
The Associated Press is reporting that a fire chief in Polk County says he spoke to a TV crew about 10 minutes before they were struck and killed by a falling tree.
Tryon Fire Chief Geoffrey Tennant's voice broke Monday as he talked about recognizing the WYFF-TV vehicle under the large tree and the two men dead inside on U.S. Highway 176 near Tryon.
Tennant said at a news conference that WYFF-TV anchor Mike McCormick and photojournalist Aaron Smeltzer told him to be safe as Subtropical Storm Alberto was expected to bring more flooding and mudslides to Polk County.
Tennant says he told the TV crew to be safe, too.
Tennant thinks the roots of the 3-foot (91-centimeter) diameter tree were loosened in ground saturated by a week's worth of rain.
The fringes of Alberto brought up to 2 inches (5 centimeters) of rain to the area Monday.
The deadly accident took place on U.S. 176 in Polk County, N.C.
McCormick had worked for the station since 2007 and Smeltzer was the station's photographer in the Spartanburg bureau, according to the station's website.
NC Governor Roy Cooper offered condolences to WYFF and family of McCormick and Smeltzer.
"Two journalists working to keep the public informed about this storm have tragically lost their lives, and we mourn with their families, friends and colleagues," Gov. Cooper said. "North Carolina needs to take Alberto seriously. I urge everyone to keep a close eye on forecasts, warnings and road conditions, especially in western North Carolina where even heavier rain is predicted through tomorrow."
WFMY News 2 will update this story as more information is released.