Roland Steadham, Idaho CBS News Channel 2's chief meteorologist, was among two people who died in a tragic plane crash near the Payette River in Idaho on Tuesday.
Steadham, aged 67, along with another unidentified man, was on board a small aircraft that struck a power line before plunging into the frigid river, located west of Montour and northeast of Emmett, shortly before 11 am on Tuesday, according to information from the Gem County Sheriff’s Office and KBOI 2 News.
Deputies arrived at the scene around 10:58 a.m. and discovered that both passengers of the plane had sustained fatal injuries, as stated by the Sheriff’s Office.
“For the past decade, Roland Steadham guided people through storm after storm in Idaho,” as per KBOI. “He loved to study the weather and shared it with people across Idaho. Roland’s excitement for the weather was contagious.”
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Who was Roland Steadham?
{{/usCountry}}Also Read: Date for ‘No Kings’ protest revealed: When is it and how many people are expected to participate?
Who was Roland Steadham?
{{/usCountry}}Steadham, the son of a Cuban immigrant, dedicated 35 years to his career as a meteorologist, with a significant portion of that time spent in South Florida where he forecasted hurricanes and severe thunderstorms for NBC 6 in Miami, as per his biography and LinkedIn profile.
Following this, he transitioned to work in Salt Lake City before eventually joining KBOI. In addition, he had a passion for flying and operated a small aircraft from Emmett. It remains uncertain if Steadham was the one piloting the plane, although he possessed a commercial pilot’s license.
Roland Steadham's family: All on his wife and kids
Steadham is survived by his wife Erin Steadham and their six children.
Erin Steadham is generally a very reserved person. However, she once courageously recounted her experience with breast cancer and mentioned that it was a difficult period that the couple faced together.
Roland Steadham's net worth
During Steadham's professional journey as a meteorologist, he successfully amassed a net worth estimated to be between $1 Million and $3 Million, as per various US media reports.