LSU OC’s daughter-in-law dies in plane crash
Ed Orgeron sends his thoughts and prayers after the death of Carley McCord, daughter-in-law of LSU offensive coordinator Steve Ensminger. Orgeron expects his OC to coach against Oklahoma. (0:32)
ATLANTA — Carley McCord, a sports reporter and the daughter-in-law of LSU offensive coordinator Steve Ensminger, was one of five people killed in a plane crash in Lafayette, Louisiana, on Saturday.
McCord, a sideline reporter and sports talk radio host covering the New Orleans Pelicans, Saints and other sports, was traveling on a private plane to Atlanta to watch No. 1 LSU play No. 4 Oklahoma in a College Football Playoff semifinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.
Her husband, Steve Ensminger Jr., said he was unable to go to the game and was at work when the crash happened. His father is coaching in the Peach Bowl.
LSU coach Ed Orgeron told ESPN’s Holly Rowe, “Our thoughts and prayers out to him. Steve and his wife, his family are so distraught. Steve is a man. He knows how to handle things.”
Ensminger had tears in his eyes when he appeared on the field at the start of the game Saturday afternoon, and LSU players embraced him with hugs.
“He’s the MVP right now,” Orgeron said of his offensive coordinator at halftime as LSU led 49-14.
WDSU-TV in New Orleans, which employed McCord as a sideline reporter, issued a statement on McCord’s death.
“We are devastated by the loss of such an amazing talent and valued member of our WDSU family,” station 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. As we reflect on her impressive body of work, we offer our deepest condolences to her family.”
The Pelicans and Saints also issued a joint statement on McCord’s death. The Pelicans held a moment of silence for McCord ahead of Saturday night’s game against the Pacers.
McCord, 30, was a graduate of Northwestern State University and LSU. She previously worked as a sports reporter in Cleveland before returning to her hometown of Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Ensminger Jr. said he and his wife had the same birthday, and he shared a photo of the two celebrating at a restaurant, a dessert with a candle between them. His Instagram account shows photos of the couple and their families at various sporting events and celebrations. He updated the account Saturday to say: “I’ll never be the same with out you, Carley! You are, and will forever be my world.”
The eight-passenger plane crashed into the parking lot of a post office about 1 mile from the Lafayette Regional Airport, Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Tony Molinaro said.
In addition to McCord, four others aboard the plane died, including 51-year-old pilot Ian E. Biggs. The other passengers who perished were Robert Vaughn Crisp II, 59; Gretchen D. Vincent, 51; and Michael Walker Vincent, 15.
Four people were brought to the hospital: one from the plane identified as Stephen Wade Berzas, 37, and one on the ground and two post office employees who were brought in for evaluation, Lafayette Fire Department spokesman Alton Trahan said. Berzas was in critical condition, Trahan said.
Eyewitnesses told KLFY-TV that the plane hit a car as it fell, and that someone could be heard screaming inside the vehicle. A blackened car sat in the post office parking lot, which was carpeted with scattered tree limbs.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.