What To Know
- NBC News’ Tom Costello helped rescue a 17-year-old driver from a devastating car crash he witnessed on his way home from work in Washington, D.C.
- Costello and other pedestrians carried the injured teen to safety just before the car caught fire and exploded.
- Fans applauded Costello for his life-saving actions, while he urged parents to monitor their teen drivers.
NBC News’ Tom Costello is used to reporting the news on TV, and now, he’s at the center of his own news story.
During the Tuesday, May 12, episode of NBC News NOW‘s Hallie Jackson NOW, Costello detailed how he helped save a teen from a devastating car crash on his way home from work in Washington, D.C., the evening prior.
“It was horrific. What happened was this car passed me last night as I’m leaving work at 100 miles per hour. That’s my guestimate,” he explained to host Hallie Jackson. “And that car then made a corner and slammed into a concrete jersey barrier on the Beltway, on the Washington Beltway. And when he did, the car exploded into 100 pieces. Not fire immediately, but pieces everywhere. And I thought, ‘If that person survived, they need help fast.’”
Costello immediately called 911 and went over to the car to help the driver. “I went, and I opened up the car door, and I thought he would be dead. Honestly, I thought nobody could survive this,” he shared. “And it was a teenager, and he was stunned. He wasn’t speaking. He had a gaze in his eyes. He was looking out the front windshield. I said, ‘Can you hear me?’ And he said yes. I said, ‘Can you feel your fingers, your toes?’ ‘Barely,’ he said. [I asked,] ‘What hurts?’ [He said,] ‘Everything hurts.’”
While assessing the driver, Costello noticed a fire beneath the car. Hesitant to move the 17-year-old on his own, Costello waved down other drivers for help. Two of those drivers turned out to be an orthopedic surgeon and a nurse.
“We carried him down the off-ramp to safety,” he said. “And then, the car started, really caught fire, and exploded. So, it was horrific. Thank god for that orthopedic surgeon and the nurse. She was amazing. He was amazing.”
The lesson Costello said viewers should learn from the incident is to “watch your kids.” He stated, “This was a 17-year-old, probably hadn’t been driving long, 100 miles per hour. He should be dead. I can’t believe he’s alive, to be honest with you. So, boy, it was really just sobering and a wakeup call. I didn’t get to sleep right away last night, but yeah.”
Fans applauded Costello’s heroism in the comments of the news segment shared via NBC News’ Instagram. “We have all been on the highway and that same car zooms by us. I always shudder imagining what’s happening down the road,” one person wrote. “Grateful for people like you and the other bystanders watching over our kids. Thank you.”
Another user added, “Wow! Just wow! Thank goodness for Tom. And unbelievable that the doctor and nurse were also at the right place at the right time.” Someone else shared, “An amazing human being, on top of being an excellent aviation reporter. Thank you, Mr. Costello.”
A different person praised, “That child was so fortunate that you and those medical experts were right there to save his life. Thank you so much for stopping to help save his life.” A separate commenter gushed, “I’ve been a fan of Tom Costello ever since he was a reporter in Denver. This situation could have turned out very differently if not for Tom. I’m sure the kid’s family may think so as well.”
Hallie Jackson NOW, Weekdays, 5/4c, NBC News NOW