Tornado Chaser's True Story: 'I Messed Up Big'

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By Brian Ries2014-04-30 00:37:51 UTC

A Mississippi tornado chaser met his match on Monday when a massive twister barreled directly over his car — while he was strapped inside.

Luckily, he survived the tornado that swept through Tupelo, Miss.

Even better, he filmed the whole thing.

See also: 20 Vines From the Deadly Tornado Outbreak

In the video, which was posted to YouTube on Monday (and has now been made private), a man is seen driving alongside a tornado, when he suddenly pulls off the road and into a field.

Image: YouTube

Soon, the tornado is directly upon him, and debris shatters the windows, while the man continues to film inside the car. Eventually, the storm passes — but another storm was waiting for him online.

Storm chasers were quick to call the man out for his irresponsible work trying to document the tornado, as it rolled through Mississippi.

"What was this guy thinking?" Twitter account Chaser Central asked.

"And this is why storm chasers get a bad rep ... what an idiot and no way a true chaser!" tweeted Austin Winfield, chief meteorologist at Beartooth NBC.

But the man who posted the video provided his point of view late Tuesday afternoon in a YouTube comment.

Addressed to "the ones who are quick to judge," TVWXMAN32 — whose real identity has not yet been established — said everyone was wrong about how he got stuck in that twisted pickle:

For the ones who are quick to judge...You did NOT KNOW my situation! I turned at the wrong exit while heading south, thinking I was SOON passing the city to be clear of the tornado track. As I turned and looked to the right and saw the tornado, I knew I messed up big!! It was to late! Was not going to try too out run it in reverse! So I dove into the ditch area, a good 40 feet deep... you know "get low"...That saved me. I had my seat belt on the entire time actually I was just thinking out loud and then turned key off so air bags would not deploy if rolled. Was not going to get out and lay on the ground and have my own suv roll over me...MY choice. As for the windows...shingles and debris hit the SUV...not hail ( as someone on here speculates). Vehicles on the road up high, well got rolled. I guess almost EVERYONE on here is a perfect storm chaser/spotter. They will never have anything go wrong or make a mistake....GOOD LUCK! As for the video going viral...I never in a million years thought it would happen!! I wish I never posted it now. Every chase is a learning adventure. 25 years of chasing and this was the only close call i have had. Next time...well who knows. I enjoy reading all comments, mainly negative ones. Keep them coming! It tells me a lot about you. I'm not Arrogant! You would probly like me. I have a passion for weather like all of you! Lets chase, spot and help get the warnings out together and not have every move become a "Competition"...AND it has become that. I wish I could block chasers from seeing this and let only the locals see it. I could delete this video, but now its Tupelo history. I met a lot of nice locals there. Good luck to ALL you!

Experts say cars are not the ideal place to be during a tornado, but if it's the only option, there are some things you should do.

“If flying debris occurs while you are driving, pull over and park,” the American Red Cross says. “Stay in the car with the seat belt on. Put your head down below the windows, covering with your hands and a blanket if possible.”

If you can get noticeably lower than the level of the roadway, the Red Cross adds, then exit your car, and lie in that area, covering your head with your hands.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration adds, “There is no safe option when caught in a tornado in a car, just slightly less-dangerous ones.”

“If you are caught by extreme winds or flying debris,” NOAA says, “park the car as quickly and safely as possible — out of the traffic lanes. Stay in the car with the seat belt on. Put your head down below the windows; cover your head with your hands and a blanket, coat or other cushion if possible.”

Basically: Don’t do what TVWXMAN32 did, whether you intend to be there or not.

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Topics: Climate, tornadoes, US & World, YouTube

Image: Jim Lytle/Associated Press