LOS ANGELES (KNX) – Longtime airborne traffic reporter Jeff Baugh, who helped Southern California drivers navigate through countless sig alerts, freeway tie-ups and massive brush fires on KFWB, KNX, and KFI, died Tuesday evening.
At the time of his death, Baugh was working for KFI. Starting in 1986, he reported for KFWB. Former program director Andy Ludlum said Baugh served as an integral part of KFWB’s news coverage and was the station’s “secret weapon.”
From 2008 to 2017, Baugh worked for KNX News, where he’s fondly remembered by many co-workers.
Reporter Pete Demetriou remembered Baugh’s “encyclopedic knowledge” of the road system.
“He could actually paint word pictures that would make a difference to a person who was actually driving in their car,” he said. “It's one thing when you say there's a problem on the 101, (but) Jeff would explain where it was and more importantly, how to get around it in such a language that you could sit there, make up your mind (and say) ‘you know what? I better listen to this guy and I better turn or I'd better get off here right now.’”
To Jennifer York, traffic anchor for ‘LA’s Morning News,’ Baugh was a “warm hug.”
“Whenever I was grounded when I was flying for Channel Five, he would come over and give me a hug at the airport and we'd eat doughnuts together,” she recalled.
Former KNX program director David G. Hall said Baugh was passionate about his job.
“Every time he would actually come into the building, he would find a way or find time to come into my office and ask how he was doing what he needed to do differently,” he said. “What was working, what wasn't working. He was always trying to get better, he was always trying to find another even little thing, you know, the finer details to be able to do his job better. Reporting traffic was Jeff's second life, if you will.”
KNX traffic reporter Scott Burt called Baugh a “second dad”.
“Like any relationship like that, we had our moments,” he tweeted.
“Some good, some bad. He pissed me off sometimes, and I am sure that I pissed him off sometimes too. That said, I would not be where I am at today without this man. He believed in me when others didn't.”
Outside traffic reporting, Baugh had a second life in which he loved his cars and, according to Burt, was an “inspiration” when it came to taking care of them. He loved NHRA drag racing, was in the Marine Corps, and served in Vietnam. He also co-authored the book “Stick With Us And We'll Get You There: How To Be Where You Want To Be On The Road And In Life.”
There was also the Jeff Baugh who DJ-ed at the infamous Studio 54 and personally knew Rick James. Burt said Baugh talked about lending a hand to the disco song “Born to Be Alive.”
“Jeff's was a life well lived and we were all a little better for knowing him,” LA Morning News’ Vicky Moore said.
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