Tornado Chaser, Son, Collegue, Killed By Tornado

Tornado Chaser Tim Samaras, his 24 year old son Paul and another tornado chaser, Carl Young were killed by the EF-3 tornado which ripped through Reno, Oklahoma on Friday.   Evidently, as they were chasing the tornado, it took at hard, unexpected turn to the North, which left them in the tornado's path.

Although it's not surprising a group of tornado chasers were killed, it was bound to happen sooner or later with so many amateurs and thrill-seekers joining the ranks in the last few years, it was a bit surprising the one killed was Samaras.  He was a very experienced chaser.  One of the most experienced.  His team starred on the Discovery Channel's "Storm Chasers" program for 3 years before being cancelled in 2012.

This follows on the heels of The Weather Channel's Mike Bettes narrowly escaping serious injury after a tornado threw their Tornado Hunt vehicle 200 yards in Oklahoma on Friday.  Here's the video of Bettes' ride.  Bettes claimed he and his storm chasing crew were trying to get away from the tornado, to the south side, when it took an unexpected turn and hit their vehicle.



These incidents call to attention the extreme danger of chasing tornadoes.  It also calls to attention the debate between those who say chasers are merely cowboys out to one-up each other to capture the most dramatic video for ratings and notoriety, and those who say at least some chasers are researchers.

Samaras was said to be a serious scientist and colleagues were shocked he fell victim to the tornado because of his experience.  The Weather Channel is a little different.  There was no research being done here.  They were out to capture the most dramatic video they could for the channel's live coverage of the tornadic outbreak.  Otherwise, why would their crews being doing exactly what meteorologist tell us NOT TO DO when a tornado approaches.

One things for sure, they probably won't be the last storm chasers injured or killed, trying to "get the shot."