Mitch Thompson, a long-time traffic reporter whose coverage of San Francisco Bay Area congestion was heard on local radio for more than two decades, died this week at the age of 63.
His death was first reported by KCBS (740 AM, 106.9 FM), the Audacy-owned all-news station in the Bay Area where Thompson’s traffic reporters were broadcast for the better part of 20 years.
Thompson was employed by Total Traffic, which had a reporting agreement with KCBS Radio’s then-parent company, CBS Radio. His final report was heard in March 2017 after CBS Radio ended its agreement with Total Traffic in favor of in-house traffic reports. (CBS Radio was later acquired by Entercom; the combined company is now called Audacy.)
“His sense of humor and ability to bring people together were among his most special qualities,” a KCBS Radio spokesperson wrote in a story published on the station’s website Tuesday afternoon. “Mitch would commonly host parties and would encourage his guests to participate in games, from Jenga to Foosball to Checkers and Go Fish, providing fun prizes to winners of the night.”
Thompson leaves behind a wife, two daughters and numerous grandchildren. Memorial information was not immediately available.
