Jessica Rowe in horror car fire in eastern suburbs

Jessica Rowe has paid tribute to those who rescued her and her daughter when their car burst into flames in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.

Jessica Rowe has thanked those who came to her aid when her car burst into flames while on the school run yesterday afternoon.

The journalist and her daughter were helped from their car by a school bus driver who noticed smoke coming from the vehicle on New South Head Rd in Rose Bay.

In a heartfelt Instagram post, Rowe said: “We’re safe & sound! Thank you for all of your kindness and love.

“Thank you to the thoughtful, fast thinking and kind school bus driver Mev who got us out of the car, called the fire brigade, cleared the road and then stayed to drive us home.

“Thank you to the police & paramedics who are angels. And the tow truck driver! And the mums & dads who stopped to help. We love you.”

Rowe appeared on Sunrise this morning where she again thanked the bus driver who rescued them.

“How beautiful that bus driver, his name is Mev,” she said. “I want to send him all of my love and thanks.

“He was just extraordinary how he looked after us. I can’t believe what happened.”

She added: “She was with me in the car (her daughter), we headed up the hill to pick up my other daughter…I’m a slow driver, but the car was really slowing down, and all the smoke started pouring out from under the bonnet.

Jessica Rowe’s car on fire outside Kambala school in Rose Bay. Picture: Supplied

Jessica Rowe’s car being put out by firefighters. Picture: Supplied

“I was in a bit of shock, thinking what is actually happening.

“The bus was coming down the other direction, he stopped his school bus, got out and told us to get out of the car, it was on fire.

“He got us out, and we waited in his school bus, while he rang the fire brigade, got the other kids off the road, because kids being kids, a lot of them had their phones, so they were filming.

“I couldn’t believe it, it was phenomenal.”

Rowe said she was still unsure what exactly had happened to the car.

“It’s not an old car, it’s not brand new either.

“I’m not a mechanic, but I honestly don’t know. I think the engine must have overheated, but apart from that, I don’t know.

“The thing is, we are all safe and sound.”

She also praised her daughter for how she coped with it all.

Jessica Rowe pictured with her daughter shortly after the car fire was put out. Picture: Matrix

“I feel for her because she was really quite upset.

“The shock of it. As a teenager, because there are other kids filming, and all that, she didn’t like being the centre of what was happening.

“She is OK, she’s off to school this morning, I’m so proud of her.”

Rowe’s husband Peter Overton was due to read the news on Thursday evening but instead rushed home to support his family.

“Poor Peter,” she added. “He was more stressed than I was, because Allegra rang him in such a state, and he was seeing what was happening in the background, so he actually didn’t read the news last night.

Family photos. Jessica with husband Peter Overton. At Home with Jessica Rowe. Jessica Rowe's 10 favourite items. Picture: John Appleyard

“He left to come home, give Allegra a big hug, and it was one of those things that never in your wildest dreams do you think it’ll happen, but what I keep saying to Allegra is, we are fine, we’re safe and sound, and look at the kind loving people starting with the bus driver who stopped to help. There are so many good people out there.”

Speaking shortly after the incident on Thursday Rowe’s manager, David Wilson, said the veteran TV star was picking her daughter, 14, up from school when a school bus driver noticed smoke billowing from her vehicle.

Mr Wilson said the bus driver, Mev, rushed to the pair’s aid.

He saw the smoke coming from the Volvo XC 60 before it burst into flames on New South Head Rd in Rose Bay.

Mr Wilson said Mev “saw the smoke, ran up to the car and got them both out”.

“He got everyone to move away from the footpath, directed traffic, rang the fire brigade and then drove them all home,” he added.

Rowe’s husband and Nine newsreader Peter Overton spoke to the pair on Thursday afternoon and confirmed they are unharmed.

“There’s no hospitalisation or anything like that involved, but both are really rattled as you would be,” Mr Wilson said.

The aftermath of the fire that consumed the car. Picture: Supplied

The engine Picture: Supplied

Mr Overton did not present the news on Thursday evening and instead rushed home to be with his family.

Mr Overton told 2GB on Thursday evening he was traumatised by the incident.

“Everyone at work could see that I was absolutely traumatised when I saw my 14-year-old on FaceTime absolutely inconsolable.

“I saw in the background the car ablaze.”

NSW Police said officers were called to the scene at about 3.30pm.

It is reported the car was on fire for a short period of time before it was extinguished.

The incident, which was captured on video by a shocked onlooker, led to traffic delays, but was just cleared just after 4pm.