Preston & Steve get the full story from the Philly native / viral sensation who broke the internet after getting hit by a car while reporting live.
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00:00All right.
00:01Thank you very much, Kathy.
00:03Some really great things about this next guest and the story.
00:08Yesterday, we were watching the video.
00:10Marissa goes, you got to see this.
00:11Or was it you, the show?
00:12No, it was Marissa.
00:13Marissa's coming, you got to see this.
00:14She goes, she's from Philly.
00:15And she plays the clip.
00:17And we're going to have her on in just a second.
00:19A reporter in West Virginia, a TV station, doing a live report.
00:22Gets hit by a car.
00:24And not like a little tap.
00:26Like she got hit and knocked to the ground.
00:28Gets right back up again and continues the report.
00:30And I told Casey, I felt like totally big timing yesterday because we're sitting here watching this.
00:34And I go, I go, that's great.
00:35Get her on.
00:37Get her on tomorrow.
00:39And, of course, Marissa took care of it.
00:41I'm going to play the clip here for you.
00:43This is clip number one of this happening.
00:44And now we're starting to experience, unfortunately, in freeze-thaw, we see this, water main breaks.
00:52Oh, my gosh.
00:54I got hit by a car, but I'm okay.
00:57I just got hit by a car, but I'm okay, Tim.
00:59That's the first for you on TV, Chory.
01:01We're all good.
01:03I'm okay.
01:03I actually got hit by a car in college, too, just like that.
01:07I am so glad I'm okay.
01:08One woman bad.
01:09You sure you're okay, Chory?
01:10We're good, Tim.
01:11Ma'am, you are so sweet and you are okay.
01:13I am okay.
01:14It is all good.
01:15Oh, my God.
01:16Is that the woman that hit her?
01:18Yeah, I think so.
01:19And I was, when she said I got hit by a car in college one time, I was like, oh, my God.
01:23It's okay.
01:24I get hit by vehicles often.
01:26And then one last part to play here.
01:28You know, it's my last week on the job, and I think this would happen specifically to me, Tim.
01:33So you were bumped down low, Tori, or were you hit up high?
01:35I couldn't really tell from looking.
01:37Do you know if I was bumped down low or up high, sir?
01:40I just saw you disappear out of the screen.
01:41I don't even know.
01:41I don't even know, Tim.
01:43My whole life just flashed before my eyes.
01:45Oh, my God.
01:47The pride of Plymouth White, Plymouth White, Marge.
01:49Please welcome Tori Yorkey.
01:52Yay!
01:55Oh, my God.
01:56Oh, my God.
01:57Are you okay?
01:59Yeah, I am okay.
02:02I am good.
02:03I'm just a little sore.
02:04Thank you for asking, but I am totally okay.
02:07So what happened was it wasn't a head-on, it was more of like a side swipe, but a fairly vigorous side swipe, correct?
02:16Yeah, yeah.
02:17You know, I thought about it afterwards, and I was really grateful for the way that she had hit me because she pushed me forward.
02:25And, you know, I don't know, that could have went a lot of wrong ways, so I was just kind of, yeah, she swatted.
02:31I guess she must have hit me with the headlight and, you know, tossed me, essentially.
02:36But it was all good.
02:37There was a patch of snow there, and I think that might have helped break my fall.
02:41I'm not really sure because I kind of, you know, whined out a little.
02:45But, you know, it's all good.
02:46Yeah, we just got back up and kept going with it.
02:48Okay, so what day did this happen?
02:50Was this on Wednesday?
02:51This was on Wednesday night, yeah, at 11.
02:54Wednesday night, so then it hits the social media craze on Thursday.
03:00Yes.
03:01Today, you were on the Today Show this morning.
03:03Oh, yeah, yeah.
03:04And so I would imagine yesterday was an absolute whirlwind for you, right?
03:09Oh, yeah, it was, for sure.
03:11There was so many.
03:12I've never had so many text messages, emails, calls.
03:15It was crazy.
03:17And everyone was watching me well.
03:18It was so nice.
03:19I feel like, you know, I definitely need to go through all of them and thank everybody because I really appreciate it.
03:25But, you know, fortunately, I was good.
03:27I was at an apartment complex.
03:29I was off the roadway just right at the entrance of where you would drive up the hill or down the hill.
03:34And, you know, this is West Virginia, so it was a pretty steep hill.
03:38Right.
03:38But she was coming out of the complex.
03:40So, luckily, you know, she was going slow enough, you know, that it wasn't too bad.
03:47It wasn't too bad.
03:47I think what happened, what people instantly connected to is that you had just been sidestriped.
03:52You're saying to her, you know, you're so sweet.
03:55And you were concerned about her.
03:57And people immediately heard you.
03:58You didn't jump on and go, you crazy bitch.
04:01What did you just do?
04:02You know, you took a more sobered approach to the whole thing.
04:07And that's, I think, what people connected to.
04:09You were clearly concerned about her as well.
04:12Yeah, no, and I appreciate that.
04:14And a lot of people are saying that, you know, the thing is, is she didn't mean to do it.
04:18And I could tell as soon as she got out of the car, her face, her voice was super distraught.
04:23And I was like, you know what?
04:24I haven't hit anybody, but I've definitely been in a situation where I, you know, was like, oh, I can't believe I just did that.
04:31So I didn't want to make it any worse on her.
04:33And, you know, and I, you know, and now I feel even worse because it's like everywhere.
04:37So she's just kind of, you know, probably happen to see it more and more.
04:40But she was really a nice person and genuinely didn't mean it.
04:44So I just figured, let me just reassure her.
04:46Let her know I'm good.
04:48Everything's fine.
04:48We're good.
04:49When Marissa told me you were from our area, I was almost expecting you to go, it's okay.
04:53I'm from Philly.
04:54Yeah.
04:57No, you know.
04:58Yeah.
04:59Oh, I was going to say, we got to hear about the college thing.
05:02All right.
05:03What's that story?
05:05Do you know, it's funny.
05:06I don't know why that was like the first words to come out of my mouth.
05:11I really don't know.
05:12It was one of those things to shock, you know.
05:16But basically in college, I went to Penn State University and I was walking home from the library one night.
05:24True story.
05:25And I was walking past an alleyway and the guy just rolled a stop.
05:30And he, so he wasn't going, you know, not maybe like 10 miles an hour if that.
05:35Just gave me a little push.
05:36And he got out all concerned.
05:38I was like, dude, it's good.
05:39Just keep going.
05:40We're good.
05:40And I just kept walking.
05:41And then, you know, so I think in my head, I was trying to just reassure her, you know, this has happened.
05:48I get hit all the time.
05:51Yeah.
05:52It wasn't that bad at the time.
05:55I just was like, let me just let her, you know, that's the only thing I could think of as to why I said it.
05:59It's just funny because it'd be akin to someone saying, oh, it's okay.
06:01I get hit by lightning all the time.
06:04So what happened with her?
06:06How, like, why did she hit you?
06:09I don't know.
06:10You know, I was standing in, like I said, at the end of that apartment complex.
06:14I was up against the corner and I was actually on the opposite side as to where the cars typically turn out like that.
06:23I think she just cut it real good.
06:25And, like, I don't know, maybe the emergency cruise because there was a water main break and the whole road was not closed, but down to one lane.
06:33They were doing slow, you know, the workers out there with their slow and stop signs.
06:38So maybe she got a little, you know, distracted with that or, you know, just it could have been a lot of different things.
06:46I definitely know I will not be doing a live shot in that area, in that spot ever again, though.
06:52I've learned from this.
06:53It's all good.
06:53I don't need to get hit by another car.
06:55Yeah, it's clearly, and this is a common thing.
06:58They send, you know, you do the live shot from a location with a water main break or whatever, and it happens constantly.
07:03But, I mean, we've had stories here.
07:06We had the Fox 29 reporter, Steve Keeley, just got blasted by a snowplow, and that became a viral sensation.
07:14The truth of the matter is you guys are out doing this stuff.
07:16Are we good there?
07:18Yeah, you guys are out and doing this stuff, and it's always a risk when you're standing roadside or by something that might distract a driver.
07:26So, do they, when you're one of these kind of reporters that's going out to this sort of thing, do they give you a little instruction on how to maintain your safety while you're out there?
07:34You know, yeah, they definitely do.
07:37And, you know, we do have safety gear if needed, but I wasn't on the road.
07:43So, I, you know, I didn't think, you know, I just had so many indicators that I'm in a safe spot.
07:49Even the water guys were like, yeah, just park up there.
07:52You won't be in our way.
07:52You'll be good.
07:53And I was like, okay, great.
07:54This is going to work out so good.
07:56And, yeah, you know, but the thing is, is there is a lot of journalists out there now taking this incident, and they're, you know, kind of advocating for journalism safety.
08:05And I totally understand.
08:07I think it's a conversation that should be had.
08:09However, in that moment, I did not feel in danger.
08:13Had I felt in danger, I would have left, and my boss would have never second-guessed it.
08:17You know, she's first to tell me, just head out if you're not feeling safe.
08:21You know, just one of those freak accidents.
08:23But, yeah, they do teach us to be safe and stop it.
08:26I don't know.
08:27It was just a crazy incident, and I really don't know how she hit me.
08:33You know, my car was parked, like, 15 feet away from me, up a little bit.
08:38But I thought that was going to be safe because people typically just go around it.
08:42Yeah.
08:42So, they'll kind of, you know, go around you, too.
08:44Sure.
08:44If you're close enough to it.
08:46Just assume we're getting my favorite, man.
08:47Well, Tori, so, you know, you talk about, you know, people advocating for your safety,
08:52and that's one of the things that started happening last night is, you know, people were commenting,
08:56journalists all over the country and maybe even the world have been talking about because there have been cost-cutting measures
09:02that TV stations are, you know, implementing where normally you'd be out there with a photog,
09:07and so now you're out there by yourself.
09:10So, you know, people are saying that if you had a photog with you, you know, he or she could have warned you
09:14that somebody was on the way.
09:16Right.
09:16You know, somebody was coming.
09:17Yeah, so there has been that sort of viral aspect of it all is, you know, your contemporaries are advocating for you
09:24and other people like you.
09:26Yeah, and, you know, we could do the what-ifs all day about it.
09:30You know, the thing is, when you are in these size markets, they're smaller, not as many, you know, people,
09:38so smaller, mid-size.
09:39Even the larger markets, though, I've noticed lately, they're having one-woman, one-man bands,
09:44and the thing is, is I signed up for this.
09:47I knew what I was getting into.
09:49This wasn't my first rodeo on a live shot by myself.
09:53So, the issue, you know, again, I understand advocating for the safety.
09:57I am all for it, and, again, think a conversation should be had.
10:00However, in this situation, I didn't feel danger, like, in danger.
10:04You know, I was just like, all right, I'm just going to do a quick live shot,
10:08and then, you know, yeah, a car hit me, but, I mean, I didn't feel like that.
10:12It's a water main break.
10:13Yeah, that happens.
10:14Yeah, so, Tori, listen, I know you're going to Pittsburgh next in your career,
10:19and oftentimes, as you move up the chain in broadcasting,
10:23you'll hear from directors and producers to, you know, lose that Philly accent.
10:27Please, never, ever lose your Philly accent.
10:29Yeah, you can hear it.
10:30It's so endearing.
10:30You know what?
10:32It's because I'm comfortable with you guys, so that's why I'm talking the way I normally would talk,
10:36but, yeah, on TV, they do tell me you can't have an accent,
10:40so I do try and clean it up, but in that incident, I was like, there is no way.
10:45You know, I do try and put a filter on it and try, you know, and I practice my speech,
10:52but, yeah, you know, it's always going to be there.
10:55It's just one of those things, and I appreciate that so much because, you know, it is home for me.
11:00Yeah.
11:01I mean, just part of me.
11:02By the way, if you're just tuning in, it's Tori Yorgi.
11:05She went viral yesterday, works as a reporter in West Virginia
11:09and was hit by a car during a live report, and her last week of work, by the way.
11:14Oh, my gosh.
11:15I mean, like, this happens on the last week.
11:18Somebody had texted in and says your aunt owns a restaurant in the area.
11:23Yeah, yeah.
11:24So why not go ahead and give that a plug?
11:25Oh, yeah, I would love to.
11:27It's the best restaurant in the whole world.
11:28My Aunt Peggy, it's on Flint Hill Road and King of Prussia.
11:32It's called Gateway Cafe.
11:34Yeah, she was actually a few years back when I was interning at Fox 29.
11:38They went out there, Bob Kelly.
11:40And so, yeah, Gateway Cafe, Flint Hill Road.
11:43Yeah, they have amazing food.
11:46I think they are relocating soon, but, of course, we'll keep up with that.
11:51But, yeah, no, that's too funny.
11:52Maybe they'll name a dish after you're, like, pedestrian or hand-on or something like that.
11:56Yeah.
11:56My uncle was saying yesterday, last night, he's like, we need you to sign a picture.
12:01We'll just frame it.
12:04Just so you're being launched.
12:05That's too much.
12:06That's too much.
12:07But, yeah, I am a Plymouth-White Marsh graduate.
12:09I'm very proud of my high school.
12:11Nice.
12:12Montgomery County was very important.
12:13When did you graduate?
12:14I'm proud of my roots.
12:15When did you graduate from PW?
12:16I graduated from PW, yep, in 2014.
12:20Then I went to that seat.
12:21Okay.
12:21So, if you think of the confluence of events here and how everything worked out, and it's
12:25your last week at this station, you're going to a station in Pittsburgh, and you have this,
12:31I mean, I saw it, the whole incident was covered in the Daily Mail, for crying out loud with
12:36the video and everything.
12:37It's global.
12:38Yeah.
12:38You know, for all of the way this could have played out, it played out in the absolute
12:43best viral way possible.
12:46It's got to be mind-blowing to see that as a journalist, you get information out, you try
12:52to get information to people, and yet it's the reporter being sideswiped by a car that
12:56becomes a global news event.
12:58I know.
12:59It's crazy.
12:59I mean, you're right.
13:01The last week, like, today is literally my last day at the station.
13:04I'm thinking, oh, I'm going to be a big old crybaby going in there and saying bye to all
13:08my people that I love here, and now I'm like, okay, I guess I'm going to interview with a
13:12bunch of, it's just crazy how things have unfolded, but yeah, you know, I don't know.
13:18I really enjoyed my time here, man, and I definitely, yeah, it's just, yeah, you're
13:23right.
13:23It's just crazy how the timing happened, and of course, my goal is to get to Philadelphia
13:28one day, so now as I'm sitting here talking to you all, it's just super unreal, and, you
13:33know, yeah, Pittsburgh's next, but hopefully that's not my last stop.
13:36Tori, what's the station in Pittsburgh where you'll be working?
13:39The station is WTAE.
13:42It's the Pittsburgh's Action News 4.
13:44All right, cool.
13:45You will officially be the most famous new reporter they ever have.
13:49You know, I just hope people don't look at me, oh, I know they're going to look at me
13:53and be like, oh, yeah, she was hit by a car.
13:56It's going to take a little while.
13:57I hope they watch for the story, you know, and not to see if I just get hit by another car.
14:02I mean, you never know.
14:04That station might have planted that lady in that car and made her, let's hit her.
14:13That station, too, they did call me, like, right away, the first thing the next morning
14:19and checked on me, and they were super sweet about it.
14:22That's cool.
14:23Did they want to have you on for an interview or anything like that?
14:25No, no.
14:26No, I think he was like, well, I told him I was a little overwhelmed with, like, the
14:30request that I got yesterday, so I think he was kind of, you know, we'll just, we'll
14:35get her when we get her, and it'll all be good.
14:37Yeah.
14:38So, no, I haven't been on there yet, but, you know, it's just, it's kind of a weird
14:43situation.
14:43Yeah, yeah.
14:44Yes, absolutely.
14:45All the way around.
14:46Tori, I know you're a big Eagles fan.
14:48Did you see that Lane Johnson actually tweeted at you yesterday?
14:50Oh, my goodness.
14:52Yeah.
14:53Yeah.
14:53I screamed.
14:55I screamed.
14:56I think I was, like, crazier than the Today Show, and then, you know, I talked to Brandon
15:02Graham this morning.
15:03What?
15:04On WIP.
15:05Yeah.
15:05It's just been a crazy, like, 48 hours.
15:08Wow.
15:08I love my birds, and, yeah, that part was like, oh, my gosh.
15:14That's when I lost it, honestly.
15:16I was like, this is too much for me right now.
15:19That's cool.
15:19Wow.
15:20Well, that's, listen, I can't say I'm happy you got hit by a car.
15:24I mean, that's just, there's no way to say, you know, that, but I'm glad you're getting
15:29the attention you're getting.
15:30That's really cool.
15:32Yeah, thank you.
15:33I know, you know, it's going, I don't know, I guess it's just one of those things.
15:37You just take a negative and make it into a positive.
15:40You know, everybody tells me my reaction was priceless, and I don't know.
15:45You know, when you're in the moment like that, and the personality, and just the person I
15:49am, I'm just, I talk myself through situations, and I think that's what I was trying to do,
15:55and I figured, well, you know what?
15:56If I keep going on with the report, I won't cry, and, you know, I'll just forget about
16:01it.
16:01It'll be fine.
16:02And then, of course, when I was done, the report, you know, it did not.
16:06That's just, that was the beginning.
16:07It didn't mitigate it at all.
16:08Yeah.
16:09But that's it.
16:09That's what a professional does.
16:11You carry on, man.
16:12That's what you do.
16:13You're on your way.
16:14So that's awesome.
16:15Thank you so much.
16:16Well, thank you for coming on this morning, Tori.
16:18We know you're overwhelmed, but maybe we'll see you in person someday, okay?
16:22You guys are so fun.
16:23Thank you so much for everything.
16:24Good luck with everything.
16:25Tori, you're in, you guys.
16:28Headed to Pittsburgh, hit by a car on live TV in West Virginia.
16:32I hope we see her here.
16:34I hope she makes it back to Philly.
16:35You know, you know, oh my God, she's adorable.
16:38Yeah, she is.
16:39She's great.
16:39She seems as sweet as you could possibly be, man.