Ben Prusia
EF4
During my chase on Sunday (which I did not see a tornado... darn...), I nearly missed running into the back of a semi that was skidding on both lanes of wet pavement on I-70 east of Odessa, MO. There were at least 9-10 cars/trucks that I have seen in the median of the roadway between Odessa and Boonville all the result of sliding off of the roadway due to the slick conditions. If not for the guard cable that was in the middle of I-70, no telling how much more serious these accidents could have been.
Of the noticeable spinouts of vehicles onto the middle of the highway included a storm chaser, I believe the back of the pickup truck said "blownawaytours.com", a chaser from Lee's Summit, MO. The pickup slid off of the roadway and was facing the opposite direction in the ditch. I was passed by this truck (their speed was at least 75-80) while I was heading east on I-70 at Oak Grove. There were also a badly damaged car at Concordia that spun out, and 2 instances of trucks spinning out, one parked in the median of I-70 near Higginsville, and the other which overturned and blocked the westbound lanes of I-70 at Milepost 91 (which might have been due to the wind/possible tornado that passed through here).
All I want to say with respect for the upcoming season is slow down. A lot of these areas in Missouri had not received rain in over a month and the combination of oil from the cars and the rain made the roadway very slick. The same conditions can be possible in Oklahoma (with the lack of rain down there) soon also, so just slow down, Sure the guard cable on I-70 prevented many accidents from becoming serious but when a high risk day is put out and storms were hastily moving, I think a lot of people are taking chances with not only their own lives, but countless others also, just to get in front of the fast moving storms.
I was passed by countless chasers going east on I-70, many going 80-85+ in wet conditions, and it was really not called for.
Of the noticeable spinouts of vehicles onto the middle of the highway included a storm chaser, I believe the back of the pickup truck said "blownawaytours.com", a chaser from Lee's Summit, MO. The pickup slid off of the roadway and was facing the opposite direction in the ditch. I was passed by this truck (their speed was at least 75-80) while I was heading east on I-70 at Oak Grove. There were also a badly damaged car at Concordia that spun out, and 2 instances of trucks spinning out, one parked in the median of I-70 near Higginsville, and the other which overturned and blocked the westbound lanes of I-70 at Milepost 91 (which might have been due to the wind/possible tornado that passed through here).
All I want to say with respect for the upcoming season is slow down. A lot of these areas in Missouri had not received rain in over a month and the combination of oil from the cars and the rain made the roadway very slick. The same conditions can be possible in Oklahoma (with the lack of rain down there) soon also, so just slow down, Sure the guard cable on I-70 prevented many accidents from becoming serious but when a high risk day is put out and storms were hastily moving, I think a lot of people are taking chances with not only their own lives, but countless others also, just to get in front of the fast moving storms.
I was passed by countless chasers going east on I-70, many going 80-85+ in wet conditions, and it was really not called for.