Weatherman's Dramatic Crash Ruled a Suicide

Nicholas Wiltgen drove through parking garage wall in Atlanta
By Arden Dier,  Newser Staff
Posted Jan 26, 2016 9:54 AM CST
Weatherman's Dramatic Crash Ruled a Suicide
Nicholas Wiltgen   (Weather Channel)

"Millions read his work every week and were better for it." That's what the Weather Channel had to say after the death of a senior meteorologist in Atlanta. Nicholas Wiltgen, who worked at the company for 15 years, died Sunday when his vehicle drove through a wall of a shopping center parking garage and ended up 20 feet inside the adjacent W Atlanta-Midtown hotel, reports the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Police initially suspected Wiltgen suffered a heart attack but have since said he died from brain trauma. On Tuesday, the medical examiner's office ruled the death a suicide, per the Journal-Constitution.

A witness said the 39-year-old's vehicle was traveling "at a very high rate of speed" prior to the crash. Witnesses attempted CPR on Wiltgen but he was pronounced dead at the scene, per WXIA. One other person suffered non-life-threatening injuries. "His smile, expertise, and camaraderie will be missed," Al Roker tweeted Monday. "He was a dedicated, passionate member of our family and we will miss him deeply," the Weather Channel team adds. "Our heartfelt sympathy is with his family and friends." (More Weather Channel stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X