Weatherman's Dramatic Crash Ruled a Suicide

"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.)