Husband of sports reporter who died in plane crash agonizes over missing his wife's text

Scott Gleeson | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption At least 5 dead in Louisiana plane crash Authorities say at least five people are dead and several injured in a small plane crash in Lafayette, Louisiana.

Steven Ensminger, Jr. said he missed a call and text from his late sports journalist wife Carley McCord the morning her private plane crashed and killed five people.

McCord, a reporter for the New Orleans television station WDSU, had departed Lafayette, La. on Saturday, en route to Atlanta to cover LSU's Peach Bowl clash with Oklahoma.

Ensminger Jr., whose father is LSU offensive coordinator Steve Ensminger, said he was in agony for missing the call and text before the fatal crash. He told Sports Illustrated he was never able to reply.

"I don't have my phone and she sends me a message saying she loved me," he said. "One of the hardest things I’m dealing with is that I missed her text and I missed her call. It is by far the most pain, angst and terror and just darkest time of my life."

In a separate interview with CNN, Ensminger Jr., said of his wife: "She was my everything. She loved so fiercely. It's so hard and it hurts too much. I just want her here with me. That's all I want. She is and will forever be my world."

According to National Transportation Safety Board Vice Chairman Bruce Landsberg, no distress call was made by the small private plane before the fatal crash. The plane took off and reached 900 feet before it started a "left descending turn," Landsberg told reporters on Sunday. Eye witnesses reported seeing the plane strike power lines, according to the NTSB investigation.

Ensminger Jr., a chemical operator at a nitrogen facility in Louisiana, said he would have driven his wife to the game in Atlanta had he not had to work. He said his football coach father was the only voice that lifted his spirit. The elder Ensminger spoke to his son right before the Tigers trounced Oklahoma 63-28 to reach the College Football Playoff title game.

"The one voice that got on the phone with me that was clear and strong and supportive and confident while I was laying in that bed was my dad right before he walked out for warm-ups," Ensminger told Sports Illustrated. "I could barely speak. I couldn't hold myself together and he said, 'Son, you will get through this, it's what we do. We face the darkest times in our lives and it's what we do, we get through it. And I will take care of you and I'll be there for you to keep you strong. You're my one and only son, and my namesake and I love you and I can promise you we will get through this.' "

McCord worked as both an in-game host for the New Orleans Saints and Pelicans. The teams released a joint statement expressing condolences and praising the reporter's "infectious personality." The Pelicans had a moment of silence Saturday night to honor McCord before their game against the Indiana Pacers.