Friends and colleagues of Nina Kapur, a young Indian American TV reporter, who was killed in a moped accident in New York City on Saturday, are remembering her as an ‘amazing storyteller.’
“Nina joined the station last year, blessing us with her light and love for telling stories,” CBS2 said in a tribute Monday to ‘our colleague and friend,’ who was only 26 when she died.
Kapur died after she fell from the back of a Revel rental scooter being driven by a 26-year-old man who “swerved for an unknown reason”, in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, on Saturday evening, CNN reported citing New York Police.
Kapur and the driver fell to the roadway, and while the driver sustained minor injuries, Kapur was transported to a hospital where she was pronounced dead.
Nina, a native of Newtown, Pennsylvania, is survived by her mother, Monica, father, Anup, and her 24-year-old brother, Ajay.
The investigation is ongoing, a police spokesperson said. Neither were wearing helmets.
A Revel spokesperson told CNN the company was “actively investigating this incident” and working with the NYPD in its investigation as well.
Nina Kapur started her first day CBS New York, posting on Instagram “Pinch me #NewYorkCityNina” when she made it to her favorite city, CBS2’s Lisa Rozner said in the station’s tribute.
“Just a few years out of college, Nina had already worked on air in Connecticut and Maryland,” Rozner said. “So tenacious, she lined up her first job before graduating from Syracuse University with honors.”
“From her first live shot to streaming coverage, she did it all with a beautiful smile — a reflection of her soul,” the tribute said, “Her work behind the camera made an impression, too.”
“Nina’s specialty was connecting with people,” Rozner said noting, “Behind the scenes, she made friends with everyone.
“She attended every work gathering. And professionally, the sky was the limit. She made the best of any situation, and always paused to help others.”
“And we at CBS2 feel lucky to have experienced Nina’s calming presence and upbeat attitude,” the tribute said.
“We are heartbroken here at CBS2 as a member of our news family has passed away,” CBS New York said in a statement on Sunday.
“Reporter Nina Kapur joined the team in June 2019 and was known for her contagious smile and love for storytelling.”
Before Kapur joined CBS New York as an on air reporter, she had worked at News 12 in Connecticut.
“News 12 staff members are remembering Kapur for her incredible work ethic, as well as her sense of humor and smile,” the station shared.
Her fellow journalists took to Twitter to remember her. “@NinaKapur was vivacious and had big plans for the future. Funny, fashionable, and often the first person to like a picture on social media,” Suzanne Goldklang of News12 tweeted.
“Nina was perfect. So beautiful. So vibrant. She inspired me by being an excellent journalist and by making big moves at such a young age,” Aliah Williamson from WDTN tweeted.
Kapur was a 2016 graduate of Syracuse University’s broadcast and digital journalism program.
Barbara Fought, Kapur’s faculty adviser and one of her professors, described the young journalist as “a bright light, a very positive person, with an infectious smile,” according to an email cited by CNN.