An experienced NBC News reporter took a significant risk to save a teenage driver stuck in a burning vehicle on a Maryland highway just before it blew up.
Tom Costello, a senior correspondent, was driving home on the Capital Beltway last Tuesday when he saw a car speed past him, only to crash into a concrete barrier.
He later recounted the terrifying moment as he watched the car flip and burst into flames, with debris scattering across the highway and fire erupting from the wreckage.
Costello promptly dialed 911, expressing concern that “someone here is sick.”
As he approached the wreck, he dreaded that he might find a corpse behind the wheel—something he felt was a grim possibility.
To his surprise, he discovered the 17-year-old driver, alive and conscious, albeit in shock.
“I was convinced nobody could survive this, and here was a teenager. He looked stunned, not speaking, just staring ahead,” Costello shared.
Despite his efforts to get through to the boy, all he could utter was, “Everything hurts.”
With the fire spreading quickly, Costello was hesitant to move the boy for fear of making his injuries worse.
In a remarkable turn of events, Costello managed to catch the attention of an orthopedic surgeon and a nurse passing by.
They coordinated to pull the boy from the burning wreckage: the surgeon held the boy’s neck and head, Costello took charge of the torso, and the nurse handled the legs. They succeeded in dragging him to safety just moments before the car exploded.
Pete Pillinger, a spokesperson for the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Department, confirmed that the teen survived the terrifying incident.
Less than 12 hours later, Costello was back on air as if it were just another day.
“The takeaway here is to be cautious, kids. This 17-year-old probably hasn’t driven at high speeds before, so he should’ve been dead. It’s honestly unbelievable that he’s alive,” Costello remarked.
