3 storm chasers killed in 2-vehicle accident near Spur, Texas

[Jack Fleetwood]

IYes, Kelley screwed up, as you can tell by the last seconds of the video/live stream, he's still a human and humans make mistakes, just because he ran that stop sign doesn't mean he's subhuman or something, come on guys, really?

I think for a lot of us it was painful to first hear that someone we followed had died, then to find out it was caused by his own actions. Add to that the fact that another life was also taken and it got much worse. He wasn't sub-human, but he wasn't super-human either. The fact that his team was seen running stops signs on multiple occasions shows a recklessness that ended up being fatal.

When anyone chooses to make this much of their daily lives visible to the public, they're opening themselves up to scrutiny. Reed Timmer is another example of someone who was invisible to the world outside of storm chasing until he was on TV. Then people saw his team speeding and pushing their limits and there were complaints. If they had died or killed someone else while filming Storm Chasers, the fallout would have been much worse based on the level of celebrity.

 

[Michael Snyder]

Yep, snow covered roads. He crested a hill and just as he got over the top, there was someone stopped in his lane. He tried changing lanes, I believe the back end of his vehicle must have slid and caught the stopped truck so it spun Kelley back around so the camera faced the driver's door as he slid toward the ditch.

I grew up in the midwest, several hours north of Cassville where we dealt quite a bit more winter weather than SW MO. It didn't strike me that he was driving too fast as much as it did that the other guy had chosen a really bad place to stop. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯‎

I know what you are saying, but if you are driving this fast and cannot stop for stationary objects in the road, you are driving too fast. Any other way of looking at it puts others and yourself at risk.
On a back country road just beyond that hill over yonder, it could be kids playing in the road, a cow in the road, a tractor, whatever. If you cant see over the hill, you slow down, period. We as drivers are responsible to stop. Just cause it's a road doesn't mean you can just shotgun down it without worrying about what could be in your way up ahead.

I'm not calling you out Steve, I'm just pointing out things we can all do better.

I had a close friend of mine who thinks to this day that when he rear ended a woman, it was not his fault because the guy in front of her "slammed on his breaks".

I tried to explain why he was at fault, but he wasn't having it. We have to get off this mindset.

 

[Nathanial Brown]

I've been pretty out of the loop of storm chasing for the last year due to work and just happened to start prepping for this year when I saw this. I'd say this whole situation is just another reminder that we all need to watch our surroundings because even if we aren't doing something wrong we could be in the wrong place at the wrong time. It's a sad deal that this happened, but hopefully it'll be a bit of an eye opener for chasers that make questionable traffic decisions while in the field.

Also I hadn't seen this shared so I figured I'd post it here.. Corbin's family has created a GoFundMe to help them with their expenses of being him home and his services.
https://www.gofundme.com/memorial-fund-for-corbin-jaeger&rcid=59435758061f476f95db5e137472ae56


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[Sean Ramsey]

It's such a tragedy for all involved and the sad fact is no matter how careful you are you can only control what you do and trust/hope that others are doing what they are supposed to behind the wheel. We will all be out again with many others under intense and stressful circumstances, and it's pretty likely there will be a few that will be distracted while behind the wheel. It's an inherent risk we all take, even on an everyday basis, and it's up to everyone to do their part to ensure the safest conditions under the circumstances.

 

[Joel Lampe]

This has been weighing heavily on my mind and heart (as I'm sure it has for many of you) since the accident. I must admit that I feel anger. From what I've read in this thread and know about the situation is that this stop sign was very well-marked. This tragedy, by all accounts, is one that could've and should've been avoided. I think there's a fair chance that both parties driving were distracted at the time and the result proved catastrophic. That being said, we don't have all the details and facts on the table at this point. What I do know is that I'm really shaken up about this. Chasing is in my blood (as I know it is for many of you) and I don't see myself stopping anytime soon. I really, really hope this is a major wake-up call for all of us to drive responsibly and defensively and when we're driving that is our ONLY job. I will be discussing this incident in length with my chase partners and salvaging what we can from this tragedy - appreciating how delicate all of our lives are and being hyper-vigilant and focused on the road.

 

[Warren Faidley]

In my almost 30 years of tornado chasing I still don't get it.

No storm is worth risking the lives of others. If you want to risk your own life -- great -- go for it. I sure the hell have!

I've ended long-term friendships over this very issue, several times. If you have to get your thrills by risking your own life ---no problem. Go race cars, take up mountain climbing or base jumping -- just don't endanger the lives of others (chasers and the public) who are following the rules and prefer to live. Many chasers besides me have predicted this tragic outcome for years. How would the discussion be going if the chasers hit a bus load of children -- a totally realistic possibility.

For the majority of us, it's about the adventure, science, travel, photography and friendship. Unfortunately, a handful of people still think public roads are their personal playgrounds. Sorry, driving is still a privilege. I've said this a thousand times and I'll say it again: You don't need to be 100 yards away from a suspected tornado to confirm its a hazard. The irresponsible TV shows have distorted reality, e.g., chasers claiming to be conducting research when nothing of noted scientific value was ever produced. I use to catch atomic, fireball hell for saying that, but what do you know..... I was right. TWC will now have to face the music and it's about time they got called out.

This is in no way to lay blame on anyone involved in this specific tragedy. It would be unfair until all the facts are known. What some of us are forgetting here is that an innocent person (chaser) was killed and some people seem to be overlooking the reality or trying to avoid reality.

W.

 

[Steve Holmes]

What I do know is that I'm really shaken up about this.

Me, too. I've been glued to the discussion on three different online boards. Following the conversations helps me process what happened. Not that I knew any of the guys, but I go out on the farm roads, too. What Corbin suffered... hell, that could have been me. It could have been any of us.

How would the discussion be going if the chasers hit a bus load of children -- a totally realistic possibility.

Chasers would then be worried about a backlash, from law enforcement and from the media, with a strong suggestion that all vehicle decals and bar lights be removed when within a 100-mile radius of Spur.

It would be a fierce, emotional debate like this one. I saw this after 9/11 in the train-chasing community. We were viewed with suspicion. Why would anyone want to be around heavy, fast-moving machines that carry hazardous materials and are vital to our economy? Keep an eye on 'em. Some in the hobby advocated laying low for awhile. Spend your chasing time digitizing your slide collection instead. Others said they weren't the problem. They had as much right to be out there as they always did, they replied, and could help look for the bad guys.

Another way to frame the debate: Suppose Corbin had been killed by a speeding drunk driver? Would there be as much defense of the driver if he were a regular Joe than if he were, well, one of us?

 

[Tony Laubach]

My rambling thoughts, for whatever it's worth to you all... starts at 8:02, sorry 'bout the audio...

 

[Steve Holmes]

Joplin Globe story on the crash: http://www.joplinglobe.com/news/loc...cle_ef7f4ac8-5247-56fd-b932-17954392bd69.html

KSPR (Springfield, MO) story, with a recent interview with Williamson. http://www.kspr.com/content/news/Re...amson-killed-in-crash-in-Texas-417400153.html

 

[Ben Faber]

A tragedy that I'm still sorting out mentally, but one of the most chilling/sobering things I think I've ever seen is watching the video right up to the point of the intersection. As they approached knowing that in 5 minutes, 2 minutes, 1 minute, etc all 3 lives would be over. Hearing them talk about the weather, observations, and just living life, then snuffed out forever in a split second. Carpe diem everyone, carpe diem.

 

[Warren Faidley]

When I was 19 years old and returning from a local NASCAR dirt track, I passed right through a busy intersection with my race car in tow -- totally blowing a 2-way stop sign I had stopped at hundreds of times before. It was the middle of the day and I was not tired, speeding, distracted or otherwise impaired. The stop sign was facing slightly off center, but that was no excuse. I went right through as two cars narrowly missed me at full speed. To this day I do not know why the hell I missed the sign.

I have encountered stop signs while chasing that were either damaged or downed by a storm. Regardless, I've never trusted chaseland intersections unless I have 100% 4-way visibility and confirmation that the other vehicle is stopping. I'll slow down until I see the other car stop. I still witness someone blowing a stop sign every few years.

We may never know what actually happened here. It's odd that both the driver and passenger apparently missed both the "Intersection Ahead" and "Stop Sign." I honestly believe it was just a tragic mistake -- not the continued lunacy attributed to some chasers. I suggest anytime you witness truly "idiotic" and negligent road behavior, in person or online, you should report it to law enforcement. I know that several law enforcement agencies have followed-up on reports of chasers committing serious traffic infractions from Internet broadcasts.

PS: Always chase with headlamps or driving lights on.

 

[joel ewing]

My rambling thoughts, for whatever it's worth to you all... starts at 8:02, sorry 'bout the audio...

That cat needs his summer haircut!

 

[Greg McLaughlin]

What I find most troubling is Kelley's blatant disregard for traffic laws, specifically running stop signs. I don't understand why he engaged in such reckless behavior, especially considering he was running a live stream while representing TWC. I run a stream for a local TV station, and when that camera goes on I am extra cautious about my driving and actions in general. I am representing not just myself, but the station I am working for. The same was true for Kelley. I have heard from a few chasers now who have stated this type of reckless driving by Kelley wasn't new. One chaser even claims to have had a conversation with Kelley warning him of the potential consequences of his reckless driving.

Corbin was the real victim here. He should still be alive today. My heart aches for his friends and family, especially his mother.

Hopefully this tragedy is a lesson learned for the rest of us. Our actions have consequences. Obey the laws. Respect others on the road.

 

[JamesCaruso]

I know what you are saying, but if you are driving this fast and cannot stop for stationary objects in the road, you are driving too fast. Any other way of looking at it puts others and yourself at risk.
On a back country road just beyond that hill over yonder, it could be kids playing in the road, a cow in the road, a tractor, whatever. If you cant see over the hill, you slow down, period. We as drivers are responsible to stop. Just cause it's a road doesn't mean you can just shotgun down it without worrying about what could be in your way up ahead.

I'm not calling you out Steve, I'm just pointing out things we can all do better.

I had a close friend of mine who thinks to this day that when he rear ended a woman, it was not his fault because the guy in front of her "slammed on his breaks".

I tried to explain why he was at fault, but he wasn't having it. We have to get off this mindset.

Agreed, I always thought that if Driver 1 hits Driver 2 from behind, Driver 1 is automatically assigned all or at least a majority of the responsibility for the accident.



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[Wes Carter]

I can understand in some cases publicly shaming someone to try to change their behavior. What are we accomplishing if that person is deceased? We should show some compassion and respect for friends and family who are mourning their loved ones by saving the trial by fire until a later day. The families aren't guilty of anything in this tragedy, but our words online can either comfort them or make their misery worse. The one thing we as chasers can all take from this is to be more careful at intersections and stop for all stop signs.


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