A former Current Publishing reporter, who covered Westbrook for the American Journal, died unexpectedly Monday in Austin, Texas.

?The death of Suzanne Hodgson, 28, who had been living in Austin since November 2013, was ruled a suicide by the Travis County Medical Examiner’s Office. According to a story in the Austin American-Statesman, Hodgson was arrested on July 29 and later charged with intoxication manslaughter after she ran her vehicle into a pickup truck at a red light, causing both vehicles to go up in flames. According to the story, the pickup’s driver, 26-year-old Lorenzo Ruiz, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Calls to the Texas State Highway Patrol for more information were not returned by the American Journal’s deadline.

Hodgson, who was employed by Current Publishing from January to November 2013, was well liked by not only by her colleagues at the newspaper, but also by the Westbrook community and city officials, who are in shock about the news.

City Administrator Jerre Bryant said Wednesday that Hodgson brightened everyone’s day when she arrived at City Hall, where they held weekly meetings.

“Everyone here thought the world of her, and thought she was absolutely wonderful,” he said. “She was just a shining star. She could walk into a room and put everyone in a good mood.”

“She was a great person to work with,” said City Councilor Mike Sanphy Wednesday. “She did a great job reporting and was a pleasure to work with.”

At Current Publishing, Jane P. Lord, executive editor, said, “We are all terribly saddened by this tragic news. Suzanne was a dedicated reporter and did a terrific job covering Westbrook. Our deepest sympathies go out to her family.”

Hodgson had been working as a freelance journalist in Austin, and since June 23 had been working as a reporter for the Smithville Times, a weekly publication owned by the Austin American-Statesman.

Prior to working at Current Publishing, Hodgson was a journalist and photographer for Mainely Media and an account coordinator for Perry & Banks, a Portland advertising and marketing firm. A Pennsylvania native, Hodgson attended Pennsylvania State University and Temple University.

In the American-Statesman news story Tuesday, Susie Ellwood, the Statesman’s publisher, said, “The Statesman is saddened to hear of the loss of Suzanne Hodgson. Our hearts go out to the family and friends of everyone impacted by these tragic events.”

Staff writer Robert Lowell also contributed to this report.