• iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • Australia
    • Ireland
    • World News
    • Weird News
    • Viral News
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Science
    • True Crime
    • Travel
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV & Film
    • Netflix
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • TikTok
  • LAD Originals
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • Lad Files
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Extinct
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube

LAD Entertainment

YouTube

LAD Stories

Submit Your Content
Final words of screaming father and son killed when tornado launched car half a mile

Home> News> US News

Published 13:29 11 Aug 2023 GMT+1

Final words of screaming father and son killed when tornado launched car half a mile

The two men were experienced storm chasers

Claire Reid

Claire Reid

Featured Image Credit: National Geographic/KFOR

Topics: US News

Claire Reid
Claire Reid

Claire is a journalist at LADbible who, after dossing around for a few years, went to Liverpool John Moores University. She graduated with a degree in Journalism and a whole load of debt. When not writing words in exchange for money she is usually at home watching serial killer documentaries surrounded by cats. You can contact Claire at [email protected]

Advert

Advert

Advert

Father and son storm chasers died alongside their long-term partner after the car they were in was picked up and thrown half a mile by a tornado.

In June 2013, Tim Samaras, 55, his son Paul Samaras, 24, and Carl Young, 45, died in El Reno, Oklahoma after a tornado travelling at speeds of up to 165mph picked up the vehicle they were inside and sent it somersaulting through the air.

According to officials, Tim’s body was found strapped inside the vehicle where it landed, while the other two men’s remains were found half a mile to the east and half a mile to the west.

The vehicle the men had been travelling in.
KFOR

Advert

The three men were experienced storm-chasers, with Samaras having previously appeared on Discovery Channel’s Storm Chasers.

He specialised in using customised scientific instruments to measure storms, and once measured the largest pressure drop ever recorded, the Washington Post reported.

Just moments before the tragedy, the men were heard crying out over the highway patrol radio.

Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper Betsy Randolph heard their chilling final words from the men.

She told USA Today: “They were screaming, ‘We're going to die, we're going to die.’

Advert

Paul Samaras, 24, (left) and Carl Young, 45, (right) were killed.
Facebook

“There was just no place to go. There was no place to hide.”

Images show the badly damaged Chevrolet Cobalt, with Canadian County under-sheriff Chris West telling reporters it looked as though ‘it had gone through a trash compactor’ when it was found.

He told the Washington Post: “The car was probably about 60 to 70 percent of its normal size because it had been pushed and mauled and compacted as it was tumbling down the road. Like wadded up.”

It’s still unclear what the men were doing prior to the accident, but West suggested at the time that they could have been attempting to drive parallel to the twister, which then changed direction or developed a second vortex.

Advert

Fellow storm-chasers paid tributes to the three men on social media.
Facebook

He added: “We’re never going to know, because they’re not here to tell us.”

In a statement, the Samaras family said: “Tim had a passion for science and research of tornadoes. He loved being out in the field taking measurements and viewing mother nature. His priority was to warn people of these storms and save lives. Paul was a wonderful son and brother who loved being out with his Dad. He had a true gift for photography and a love of storms like his Dad. They made a special team.

"They will be deeply missed. We take comfort in knowing they died together doing what they loved.”

Choose your content:

8 hours ago
9 hours ago
  • Getty Stock Image
    8 hours ago

    Medical expert issues warning to men about to take part in ‘No Nut November’

    Dr Rena Malik shared some advice for those considering taking part in the month-long challenge

    News
  • Getty Stock Image
    8 hours ago

    Brain surgeon denies letting daughter, 12, drill into patient’s head

    The girl was given a pair of scrubs and joined the surgical team in theatre before allegedly operating the drill, an Austrian court heard

    News
  • Getty Stock Images
    8 hours ago

    Microsoft reveals the 20 jobs most at risk of being taken by AI

    AI 'is coming for' your job, says an analyst at an investment firm

    News
  • Facebook
    9 hours ago

    Mother tragically died after opting against medical advice to give birth at home

    Jennifer Cahill passed away alongside her daughter Agnes Lily after her home birth descended into 'absolute chaos', an inquest has heard

    News
  • Chris Watts' daughter's devastating final words before being killed by her dad
  • Heartbreaking final words of brave father who died saving kids and fiancée from floods revealed by family
  • Haunting words from hallucinating son, 14, before walking off 120-foot cliff in front of his terrified father
  • Woman who survived car crash had haunting final exchange moments before incident killed boyfriend and dog