Man Rides Out Tornado Inside Van in Arkansas
In a harrowing encounter, a man survived a devastating EF-3 tornado by taking shelter inside his van. The twister tore through Pulaski and Lonoke counties in Arkansas, leaving one person dead and four more fatalities in Wynne.
According to eyewitness accounts, the man, identified as Cody Coombes, was driving his pest control van when the tornado suddenly appeared out of nowhere. Rather than risk being blown away or crushed by debris, Coombes swiftly sought refuge inside the vehicle, where he rode out the storm's fury.
The National Weather Service reported that the tornado's estimated peak winds reached an astonishing 165 mph, making it a formidable force of nature. Miraculously, Coombes emerged from his van unscathed, although shaken by the experience.
The tornado, classified as EF-3 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, was particularly destructive, leveling several homes and businesses in its path. Emergency responders were quick to respond, but the extent of the damage and loss of life underscores the gravity of this natural disaster.
As Coombes recounted his ordeal, he expressed gratitude for having been able to find shelter inside his van. "I just wanted to get out of the way as quickly as possible," he said in a statement. "I didn't think twice about it. It was like time stood still."
This harrowing encounter serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictable power of tornadoes and the importance of seeking safety when faced with such extreme weather events.
The footage of Coombes' terrifying ride out can be seen below:
[Video Link]
In a harrowing encounter, a man survived a devastating EF-3 tornado by taking shelter inside his van. The twister tore through Pulaski and Lonoke counties in Arkansas, leaving one person dead and four more fatalities in Wynne.
According to eyewitness accounts, the man, identified as Cody Coombes, was driving his pest control van when the tornado suddenly appeared out of nowhere. Rather than risk being blown away or crushed by debris, Coombes swiftly sought refuge inside the vehicle, where he rode out the storm's fury.
The National Weather Service reported that the tornado's estimated peak winds reached an astonishing 165 mph, making it a formidable force of nature. Miraculously, Coombes emerged from his van unscathed, although shaken by the experience.
The tornado, classified as EF-3 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, was particularly destructive, leveling several homes and businesses in its path. Emergency responders were quick to respond, but the extent of the damage and loss of life underscores the gravity of this natural disaster.
As Coombes recounted his ordeal, he expressed gratitude for having been able to find shelter inside his van. "I just wanted to get out of the way as quickly as possible," he said in a statement. "I didn't think twice about it. It was like time stood still."
This harrowing encounter serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictable power of tornadoes and the importance of seeking safety when faced with such extreme weather events.
The footage of Coombes' terrifying ride out can be seen below:
[Video Link]
of that dude who rode out a tornado inside his van! Like, what are the chances? 
That's one crazy way to survive a twister. I mean, I remember back in my day 
, we didn't have all these fancy weather alerts and stuff like this. You just kinda had to deal with it when it hit. And that Coombes guy, he's a total hero 
for finding shelter in his van on the fly. It's like something out of a movie 
. I'm glad he made it out alive, too... still gives me chills 
just thinking about it!
like how did he even think that was a good idea tho? van just becomes a deathtrap 
and one person ends up dead... all because someone thought seeking shelter inside the vehicle would be a viable option during a tornado 
what's wrong with just getting out of the way or going to a basement or something? this guy's lucky as hell to have made it out alive 
. The winds were seriously crazy, 165 mph? That's just mind-boggling. I can only imagine how terrifying it must have been for him to be stuck inside that van while the storm was raging outside.
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. You gotta respect the man's instincts and quick thinking to save himself in that situation. 
The fact that emergency responders were on it quick is awesome though, at least the damage wasn't too much more extreme... fingers crossed for the people who lost their homes and loved ones 
, hope the people affected by that twister are doin alright 
. Van made for a decent storm shelter, who knew? 
.
. I wish more people could take away from this experience the importance of being prepared and taking necessary precautions when severe weather hits