Inches from Disaster: Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes Recount Harrowing Encounter with Runaway Vehicle

In a gripping account, former ABC co-hosts Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes have shared the details of a terrifying incident they experienced while dining in New York City. The pair, who have since become romantically involved, found themselves mere inches away from a potentially deadly car accident, a close call that has left a lasting impact on them.

Navigating the Perils of Outdoor Dining in the City That Never Sleeps

A Routine Lunch Turns Perilous

Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes were enjoying a casual Sunday lunch in the Tribeca neighborhood of Manhattan, accompanied by Holmes' daughter, Sabine. Little did they know that their peaceful meal would soon be shattered by the screeching of tires and the impact of a vehicle crashing into another. The pair were seated in the extended outdoor dining area of a local bistro, their table positioned precariously close to the flow of traffic on West Broadway.Robach described the setup, noting that the structures where they were seated were "out in the road where people would park, people would be driving, but you're actually taking up a lane." This arrangement, a byproduct of the city's "Dining Out NYC" program implemented during the pandemic, had inadvertently placed the unsuspecting diners in harm's way.

A Harrowing Moment of Chaos

As Robach and Holmes savored their meal, the tranquility was suddenly shattered. "Let's say if a car was going to hit that structure, we would be hit," Holmes recounted, his voice tinged with a sense of disbelief. "So we were right there in the line of danger, we didn't realize, we didn't think about that. You don't, you just sit outside and eat."The pair's complacency was shattered when they heard the unmistakable sound of tires screeching and the impact of a collision. In a split second, a white minivan came hurtling towards their table, having collided with another parked vehicle. Robach described the harrowing scene, "Imagine that folks, you are sitting with a piece of plywood as the only thing between you and a vehicle coming at speed, that had just crashed into another parked car, coming at you."

A Hero's Instinct: Protecting Loved Ones

In a moment of pure adrenaline, Holmes sprang into action, throwing Robach to safety. "You threw me as far away from where the car would have been coming. And I landed on top of this older gentleman, who then landed on the floor as well," Robach recounted, her voice trembling with emotion.The aftermath was nothing short of chaotic, as patrons in the restaurant "started jumping [and] plates were flying, everybody was running." Holmes and Robach praised Sabine, Holmes' daughter, for her "quick reflexes" – a trait she had seemingly inherited from her father.

Reflecting on the Fragility of Life

As the dust settled and the scene calmed, Robach and Holmes took stock of the situation, surveying the overturned tables and chairs. Remarkably, it appeared that no one had been injured in the incident, a testament to the quick thinking and actions of those involved.Shaken by the experience, Robach acknowledged the gravity of the situation, stating, "It was scary, we were shaking, it was scary." Holmes echoed her sentiment, noting that in his years of living in New York City, he had never encountered a situation quite like this, where he was "inches away from a very serious, and potentially deadly situation."The harrowing encounter left Robach and Holmes with a renewed appreciation for the fragility of life and the importance of cherishing the moments and people they hold dear. As Robach poignantly reflected, "These are all those little moments, that we're all on borrowed time, no one knows what tomorrow brings, and it's just another reminder for us to appreciate what you have. Appreciate who you're with. Tell the people you love that you love them."