By Debbi Wilgoren
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, December 19, 2006; 8:48 AM
A veteran television cameraman was struck by a car and killed early this morning in Upper Marlboro, authorities said, while returning to his vehicle after recording footage of a strip mall fire.
Gordon Davis, 51, had been a fixture on the scene of overnight shootings, fires, accidents and other emergencies for more than a decade, Capt. Mark Brady, a Prince George’s County fire department spokesman, said this morning.
Brady said Davis, who worked for WJLA-TV [ABC7 and NewsChannel 8], was the only fulltime overnight videographer employed by any local news station, and could be seen “at just about any of the hot spots in the Washington metro area.”
This morning, his live television truck arrived in the 7500 block of Crane Highway shortly after 1:40 a.m. to cover a blaze in a framing store in the Safeway Shopping Center. Brady said firefighters extinguished the flames within about 30 minutes.
About 2:40 a.m., Davis was crossing Crane Highway (Route 301) to return to the truck, when he was struck by a car traveling south on the roadway, Brady said.
The driver of the car stopped, and summoned firefighters who were still at the strip mall to try and help Davis. He was taken to Southern Maryland Hospital, and pronounced dead a short time later. There was no crosswalk or traffic signal where he was crossing.
Brady said the accident is under investigation by Maryland State Police, in accordance with regular procedures, and the findings could be presented to a grand jury.
Davis, who lived in the town of Thurmont in Frederick County, is survived by his wife and 14-year-old daughter, WJLA said. Staffers at the station said Davis liked the overnight shift because it gave him more time with his family.
Bill Lord, vice president for news at WJLA-TV, said Davis’s work appeared on both Channel 7 and its partner station, NewsChannel 8.
Davis “was a beloved character on the overnights both here in the station and among the police, fire, and media communities who share those hours,” Lord said.
This is so sad. Gordon was the overnights photog when I worked on the desk at WJLA briefly in 1997-98. It was my first TV job out of college. Even though I was learning, he was so patient, and always worked with to get the shot. May his family have peace and comfort during this time.
My heart goes out Gordon’s family and friends. I did not know him, but I really felt a deep sadness when I came across this story. As a former news videographer, I understand the dangerous situations we were put every day…sometimes many times in one day. Its a risk we all assume with the job, and the pay off is being able to experience, first hand, some of the strangest, most dramatic, and unique moments possible. Gordon must have seen a lot in his time covering overnight breaking news in Washington, and he was able to share his experiences with thousands. You dont know me Gordon, but thanks anyway.