NBC News reporter saves teen driver from fiery crash on Maryland highway moments before car explodes

“It Happened So Fast”

Witnesses described the scene as surreal.

One driver who stopped nearby said traffic “went from normal to emergency in seconds,” adding that people were “shocked anyone could even get close to the car because of how fast it was burning.”

Others praised the reporter’s actions, calling it an instinctive and courageous response in a situation where hesitation could have had fatal consequences.

Emergency responders arrived shortly after the explosion and secured the area. The teen was transported for medical evaluation, though initial accounts suggest their injuries were not life-threatening due in large part to the quick extraction.