Not a lot of information to share outside of prelim posts to social media:
Silver Lining Tours vans rolled in Kansas
- Thread starter Steve Miller
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Warren Faidley
Supporter
Sorry to hear this. Hope everyone is OK. This will change everything.
Jay Murdock
Enthusiast
Statement from the Silver Lining Tours FB page:
As many of you are aware, we had a very unfortunate incident happen last night. While chasing the Lawrence, KS tornadic supercell, we were hit with a rain wrapped satellite tornado 2 miles southeast of the parent circulation. Two vans were rolled resulting in a few minor injuries. If you understand severe weather you will know these satellite tornadoes can not be predicted. Keeping that in mind, we kept ourselves 2 miles southeast of the main circulation that hadn’t formed a tornado yet. We could see the wall cloud off to our northwest and decided to drop back south to highway 59 where we were going to continue our chase east. One mile south of where we turned around is where we encountered the rain wrapped satellite. Two of our vans were not effected. With any luck at all and if there had been any more space in between the vans, there wouldn’t be a need to write this today as the small tornado would have passed in between us. Roger and Caryn GREATLY appreciate the outpouring of private messages and phone calls. We still do consider ourselves careful chasers as our safety record proves that. Let this serve to ALL chasers as a reminder that it CAN happen to you. STAY SAFE!!!
As many of you are aware, we had a very unfortunate incident happen last night. While chasing the Lawrence, KS tornadic supercell, we were hit with a rain wrapped satellite tornado 2 miles southeast of the parent circulation. Two vans were rolled resulting in a few minor injuries. If you understand severe weather you will know these satellite tornadoes can not be predicted. Keeping that in mind, we kept ourselves 2 miles southeast of the main circulation that hadn’t formed a tornado yet. We could see the wall cloud off to our northwest and decided to drop back south to highway 59 where we were going to continue our chase east. One mile south of where we turned around is where we encountered the rain wrapped satellite. Two of our vans were not effected. With any luck at all and if there had been any more space in between the vans, there wouldn’t be a need to write this today as the small tornado would have passed in between us. Roger and Caryn GREATLY appreciate the outpouring of private messages and phone calls. We still do consider ourselves careful chasers as our safety record proves that. Let this serve to ALL chasers as a reminder that it CAN happen to you. STAY SAFE!!!
Quincy Vagell
EF4
I might have seen them. I was very close to the circulation as it was starting to really tighten up. It was south of Lawrence when I saw several white vans in the direct path of the tornado, to my north. I was rushing to get east as the tornado was quickly growing in size.
It’s possible that they were caught off guard (a few minutes earlier, I was near Lone Star Park when the storm dropped almost directly on top of me) This thing went from non-tornado to significant tornado in just a few minutes.
Other than that, I was concerned that vans were passing me to go north about 1-2 minutes before this radar image:
I turned east moments later and saw several vans a block to my north.
It’s possible that they were caught off guard (a few minutes earlier, I was near Lone Star Park when the storm dropped almost directly on top of me) This thing went from non-tornado to significant tornado in just a few minutes.
Other than that, I was concerned that vans were passing me to go north about 1-2 minutes before this radar image:
I turned east moments later and saw several vans a block to my north.
Ben Holcomb
EF5
Wow that sounds crazy. I saw some pictures of the satellite, so the story sounds plausible. I guess those people got what they paid for?
Jeff House
Supporter
Alleged video shows it happened in the process of passing an 18-wheeler. Perhaps the Bernoulli Effect played a role around that big truck.
Warren Faidley
Supporter
They would be much better off making no statements, given the radar image. I feel for them and wish them and their client’s the best. The quest and pressure to deliver clients closer and closer to the action is risky. I’ve been in this position and it’s very frustrating. I’ve sent many clients to Silver Lining Tours who wanted a van tour because I believe they are one of the best.
Ben Holcomb
EF5
I think the alleged video is someone else/different event. The sign says Excelsior Springs so it wasn't yesterday
Quincy Vagell
EF4
I want to clarify that I do not know for sure if the vans I saw were them. Whatever vans I saw were way too close for a tour group to a rain-wrapped tornado.
Jeff House
Supporter
I should know most stuff on the Internet is fake or another event. Van has a red hood, and yeah ES US-69 sign is Missouri.
Still a good pro tip video on the danger of hydroplaning.
James Wilson
EF5
Yes I was surprised vehicles were passing me too Quincy ... this is our position where we stopped to watch it pass.
Warren Faidley
Supporter
There are a host of complications that could result from this, including rental agreements and State / Federal law. Beyond the legal or civil possibilities, this will likely result in some form of regulation, or at least start the debate again. My wife is an attorney who use to specialize in corporate and private motor vehicle law. She’s told me more than once that insurance and rental companies have had meetings and discussions about chasing. I trust the injuries were minor, but once attorneys get involved, everything will change. This will be the last year I’m taking clients with me. Not because of this event, but between the crowds changing liability awareness and risk, it’s not worth it.
Jeff House
Supporter
Yeah to a good lawyer, that waiver ain't worth the paper it's on. I do wish Hill/SL the best though.
Anyway, why do people want to get so close?
Seriously, inside the tornado video just looks like a rainstorm. Give me structure!
Anyway, why do people want to get so close?
Seriously, inside the tornado video just looks like a rainstorm. Give me structure!
Warren Faidley
Supporter
Clients see the yelling and screaming idiots and want that same action. It’s not reality based, but just like lines on Mt. Everest. People think they are invincible.
Dan Robinson
EF5
The Excelsior Springs incident was a separate hydroplaning wreck involving an unidentified chaser livestreaming on Twitch. Video here:
LivestreamFails - Car accident while tornado chasing.
LivestreamFails - Car accident while tornado chasing.
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