I can’t help but think this event is very much like the crocodile dude, Steve Irwin.
From the very first time I saw him handling animals and getting up close and personal, I thought “This guy is breaking every rule in the book!”
He seemed to be way too carefree and flippant dealing with critters, having more faith in his own knowledge and experience than belief that the animal could lash out way faster then he could respond.
He never should have been diving that close to the bottom in an area that was infested with the deadly rays.
He should have known better.
Dunno, but it seems like there are now so many storm chasers on these back roads that they have become a danger to themselves and locals because of the congestion and traffic jams they’re causing during tornados.
News Flash: Alligator wrestling can be deadly too!
Try this: His time was up.
How did Dale Earnhart get killed in his car number 3?
How did Roy get bitten by his Tiger?
You mess with the Bull often enough and the Bull gives you the horn.
I visited the OKC news show webpage with it’s storm tracker radar, and was amazed at the number of storm trackers. Little car icons all over the place, many with live video feeds etc, sponsored by various companies. It’s not just science, it’s business, ad money, web clicks, ratings. No matter how “experienced” or cautious, if you are out chasing tornadoes, the odds are that sooner or later, one will catch you.
Old article, storm strength was upgraded to EF-5 yesterday. That explains a lot, along with the unanticipated left turn by the storm that caught them out of position without an exit plan/safe route. Crap happens and it’s sad when it happens to talented people with honest intentions to learn more about storms, hoping to increase public safety.
Because it is dangerous work as is what “Crocodile Hunter” did.
They know the risks and choose to do it anyway. Not a hero, not some sort of altruistic supermen. Just average people doing a dangerous job like millions of people throughout the country that get no recognition whatsoever.
Most likely, he zigged, when he should have zagged.
You chase enough tornadoes and eventually one will chase you. Don’t mess with Mother Nature because she’ll win every time.
I listened to a discussion of this on local radio with meteorologists and their consensus was that the data provided by these stormchasers was miniscule with very little benefit to tornado forecasting. But it is a lucrative business for the pictures and the videos and it will continue.
“The three men were killed Friday by an EF-3 tornado that tore through El Reno, a suburb of Oklahoma City. The tornado, which packed winds of 165 mph, also killed 10 others.”
Article from yesterday states that the El Reno tornado was the widest tornado on record, 2.6 miles. The tornado was also upgraded from an EF-3 to an EF-5 with windspeeds up to 295 miles per hour.