United States: Tori Yorgey Hit By Vehicle On-Air, Continues Reporting

Location: United States, Dunbar     
Date: January 20, 2022

NBC affiliate WSAZ-TV reporter Tori Yorgey was accidentally struck by a car while reporting live from Dunbar, West Virginia. She quickly bounced back and continued with her segment. The anchor of the news outlet, Tim Irr, did not immediately register what had happened on site and let Tori continue to engage with the camera. The Coalition For Women In Journalism lauds Tori for how she handled the situation. The incident serves as another example of how exposed reporters are on field. We call on newsrooms to ensure their reporters’ safety and take necessary precautions when sending them to the field.

According to NBC News, Tori was on site to report on a water main break in Dunbar, Kanawha County on the evening of January 20, when a passing vehicle struck her and threw her towards the camera. The journalist said on air, “Oh my God. I just got hit by a car, but I’m OK”. She continued reporting even as the camera dropped to the ground. “That’s live TV for you, it’s all good. I actually got hit by a car in college too just like that, I’m so glad I’m OK,” she added off-camera. “My whole life just flashed before my eyes but this is live TV and everything is OK.” 

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"We're good, Tim." pic.twitter.com/9kn2YElDLK

— Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) January 20, 2022

The driver who hit the reporter pulled over shortly after the incident and contacted the journalist to check on her. “Ma’am, you are so sweet, and you are OK,” the journalist said to the driver. The accident occurred during Tori's last week at work. She announced on Facebook that she was leaving WSAZ-TV in a week to take a reporting job in her hometown in Pennsylvania.

“People in this Tri-State are truly amazing, some of the sweetest I’ve ever met. From offering me a coffee on cold days, helping carry my equipment — I always say the kindest people live here, and it’s true,” she wrote in her farewell message.

News anchor Tim Irr, who was criticized for not effectively responding to the situation, took to Twitter the next day to clarify what had happened on his end. When the collision occurred, there was a small split-screen image, not specific to the camera feed. Irr only heard the commotion in his headset without being able to see the source. 

Nope. Tiny monitor on the side, about 20 feet away. Basically, audio only in studio.

— Tim Irr (@WSAZirr) January 20, 2022

During the live broadcast, the journalist described herself as a "one-woman group", meaning Tori did not have a camera operator or photographer with her while she was doing the live news segment. Some media experts have criticized the news station saying that journalists should not be doing live broadcasts alone.

The Today Show reported that Tori went to the hospital for a check-up and is doing well. She did not make a statement about the accident on her social media accounts.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism extends support and appreciates Tori Yorgey’s commitment to her work. Unfazed, she bounced back in an instant and gracefully carried on with the segment. No injuries were incurred and viewers watching the broadcast lauded Tori’s work. However, the incident did highlight that reporters on ground are susceptible to all sorts of threats and accidents. We call on newsrooms to ensure necessary precautions are taken before sending reporters on site. It is concerning that she was reporting alone from the field. Media houses and the relevant authorities on site must work together for safe working conditions for journalists. 

The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.

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