Lisa Colagrossi, an esteemed reported in the New York City area, died after suffering a fatal aneurysm while on assignment. She was 49.

Lisa Colagrossi Dies

Colagrossi was returning to the WABC-TV station after covering a house fire in Queens Thursday for Eyewitness News This Morning when she collapsed in the news van. The photographer working the assignment with her flagged down an ambulance, which rushed her to New York Presbyterian Hospital where she was ultimately pronounced dead Friday, reported the New York Daily News.

“Lisa Colagrossi embodied the ‘Eyewitness News’ spirit — a straightforward reporter who told the truth, empathetic to the everyday citizens of the New York area, and demanding of those in power,” said Dave Davis, president and GM of WABC-TV. ”All of us in the Channel 7 family are in shock over her sudden death. Our attention is now focused on helping her husband and two children though this difficult time.”

Colagrossi had been reporting for WABC-TV since 2001, covering a variety of breaking news in the tri-state area. In addition to notable coverage of the Flight 587 crash and Hurricane Sandy, Colagrossi was often called on to substitute for anchors on the station. She’d previously reported for CBS affiliate WKMG-TV as well as stations in Alabama, West Virginia and Cleveland.

Colagrossi is survived by her husband Todd and two sons, aged 11 and 14.