Chicago Television Anchor Randy Salerno Dies in Snowmobile Accident

CBS 2 out of Chicago is reporting the death of their morning news anchor, Randy Salerno. Salerno was killed Thursday. Salerno, 45, was a passenger on a snowmobile that went out of control and hit a tree. The driver, Scott Hirschey, who was a childhood friend of Salerno, was thrown from the snowmobile, while Salerno took the full force of the impact. Attempts to revive him were unsuccessful and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Alcohol and speed are being considered as factors in the Salerno's death.

The accident took place in Eagle River, Wisconsin. Scott Hirschey was flown to Marshfield, Wisconsin, where he is reported to be in serious but stable condition at St. Joseph's Hospital. The Vilas County Sheriff's Department Chief Deputy Joe Fath has announced that Hirschey has been cited for operating a snowmobile while intoxicated. Charges of homicide while intoxicated while in use of a vehicle are pending.

Randy Salerno was a local Emmy Award winner for his work at Channel 2. He received his degree in communications from Illinois State University and served as a general assignment reporter in Rockford, and also held a weekend anchor position at WNYT-TV Albany, N.Y. prior to his work at WGN. He anchored the midday newscast at WGN before working at Channel 2. He made a cameo appearance as a reporter in the 1996 movie Primal Fear, which starred Richard Gere, Laura Linney and Edward Norton.

Salerno is survived by his wife, Irene, and their three children.

Randy Salerno has not been the only television news anchor that has passed away recently. On November 25^th, 2007, another Chicago anchor died. John Drury was 80. He died following a three year struggle with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease.

Drury came to WBBM Ch 2 in Chicago after working in Milwaukee at WTMJ-TV for six years. He spent five years at channel 2 before moving to channel 9 to anchor the nightly news broadcast. He later anchored the desk at channel 7. He switched between channels 7 and 9 until his retirement in 2002.