She was allegedly killed on 19 October 2014 in a car crash on her way back to her hotel. She was returning to Suruç with her driver and camera operator Judy Irish in a rental car when the car collided with a heavy vehicle (a cement mixer).[12] Shim survived the crash, but died of a heart attack after being taken to an undisclosed location. Her co-worker Irish was injured and taken to Suruç State Hospital.[10][13]