A West Virginia television news reporter was hit by a car during a live broadcast on Wednesday, with the vehicle slamming into her from behind and knocking her to the ground — but the consummate professional quickly assured viewers that she was OK before standing up and finishing her report.
Video shows Tori Yorgey, a journalist at WSAZ-TV, looking into the camera as anchor Tim Irr, seen on split screen back in the studio, introduces her report on a water main break in Dunbar.
Yorgey looks at the camera, and just as she’s about to start speaking, an SUV suddenly strikes her from behind. She sends her flying onto the ground and into the lens.
‘Oh my god! Although I was just hit by a vehicle, I am fine. “I just got hit with a car. But I’m okay, Tim,” could be heard a shaking Yorgey saying.
Irr continued to be assured by Yorgey that everything was fine, even though she struggled to get up. She even told the driver who had hit her, that it was nothing to worry about, calling her sweet for being concerned.
WSAZ TV reporter Tori Yorgey got hit by an SUV on Wednesday during a live broadcast from West Virginia. It can be seen behind Tori Yorgey taking a wrong turn.
She had just been introduced by anchor Tim Irr and was about to start speaking when she was struck from behind
Her impact sent her flying forward and knocked her to the ground.
Yorgey didn’t even see the SUV coming as it made a poorly-executed turn behind her — but the camera caught the seconds the front of the car came too close before crashing into her back.
Caught completely off-guard, Yorgey made a noise as she was flung forward into the camera before she landed on the ground.
Irr was visibly concerned and stated, “Wow, Tori! This is a first on television.”
Yorgey can be heard repeating “I’m OK”, even though the camera she was using to record had been knocked to pieces and had to fall on its side.
“That’s live TV, that’s for you. It’s all fine,’ Yorgey who worked at WSAV for three year could be heard saying on-camera. “I was actually hit by a car at college, and it happened just like that.” Thank God I am okay.
Yorgey could be seen getting up off the ground and returning to the camera. She assured the anchor that she was fine.
Although it was live TV, Yorgey nearly immediately declared that the frightening moment had been over.
‘Oh my god! But I am fine, I was just hit by a vehicle. Tim said that I was OK after being hit by a vehicle, although I had just been struck by one.
“That’s live television for you. It’s all fine,’ Yorgey said, who worked three years for WSAV. She stumbled back down, but she appeared out of breath.
“My life was flashing before my eyes. Yorkey smiled and said, “But this is live television. Everything is okay.”
The SUV’s driver, a woman named Yorgey, could be heard on camera apologizing and asking if everything was okay.
Yorgey’s voice was so weak that it could barely be heard, but he said: “Ma’am, you’re so sweet and you’re OK,”
Irr continued the live broadcast and asked Yorgey if she was still there after she’d been struck by the car. She had vanished shortly afterwards.
Yorgey was visibly shaken and said: “I don’t even know Tim,” when asked off-camera if she’d been hit.
“My entire life flashed in front of my eyes,” Yorkey said. Yorkey smiled and said, “But this is live television. Everything is okay.” “I assumed I was safe, but it seems that we may need to shift the camera a little.
Yorgey could be seen getting up off the ground and saying to the camera, ‘We are good, Tim.
Even though she assured the driver that she was okay, she called her sweet for her concern.
After adjusting the camera, Yorgey stated: “That woman was so kind though, it was an accidental, she didn’t mean to.”
After adjusting the camera, Yorgey stated: “That woman was so kind though, it wasn’t an accident. She didn’t mean that.”
Amazingly, Yorgey maintained her report even though she was thrown to floor by a car.
‘But again, Tim, we’ll get back to the report, right? We’re on Roxalana Hills Drive in Dunbar. She said that this is the location of the water main break.
During this time, Irr, an anchor, later admitted on Twitter that he did not see Yorgey hit and was only able to hear the audio.
He stated, “Even though her jump right up and claimed she was fine, I was still concerned.”
“Trying to stay calm in the moment was difficult for everyone involved. However, we did our best. In hindsight, I’m grateful they stayed with her to make sure she was indeed ok.’
Surprisingly, Yorgey kept her report despite being thrown to the ground by a vehicle.
Friday will be Yorgey’s final day at the station. She has announced plans to report in Pittsburgh in her home state of Pennsylvania
He assured his followers that Yorgey would be taken to the hospital for further treatment.
He said, “Frightening Moment for Tori,” ‘She’s young, but is a pro for sure.’
It is not clear if the driver that hit Yorgey is being held or facing criminal charges.
Yorgey noted earlier that the incident took place during her final week at WSAV. According to a Facebook post, her last day was Friday.
She wrote on Facebook last week: ‘From there, I’ll head to my home state of Pennsylvania to continue reporting in the city of Pittsburgh…where I’ll be closer to family.
“It’s going be the most difficult’see you soon,’ but it’s one I believe is best for me and what I look forward to.