Tornado Hunt Team Takes Direct Hit by Tornado
The Weather Channel Tornado Hunt Team is safe, but shaken up after their chase vehicles took a direct hit by a violent tornado west of Oklahoma City.
Meteorologist Mike Bettes was chasing the monster rain-wrapped tornado near El Reno, Okla. when he says the storm picked up the heavy chase SUV and threw it an estimated 200 yards.
Bettes and his team members are alive, but they do have minor injuries.
"I saw my life flash before my eyes," Bettes said in a live phone interview as soon as he established phone connection after the incident. He says the airbags deployed and everyone had their seat belts on.
He reported seeing other vehicles that had also been thrown by the storm.
The storm is now forcing a tornado emergency in Oklahoma City. Go to the weather.com severe tracker for the very latest on watches and warnings.