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Weather Channel
contractors Kelley Williamson, 57, and Randall Yarnall, 55, were
in a Suburban that ran a stop sign and hit a Jeep, driven by
Corbin Lee Jaeger, 25, at about 3:30 p.m. local time near Spur,
Texas, the Star-Telegram newspaper reported.
All three men died at the scene, about 70 miles (110 km) east of
Lubbock, the newspaper reported.
"Kelley and Randy were beloved members of the weather
community," the Weather Channel said in a statement. "We are
saddened by this loss and our deepest sympathies go out to the
families and loved ones of all involved."
Williamson and Yarnall, both from Missouri, were featured on the
network's "Storm Wranglers" special on storm chasers in October.
The area was under a tornado warning at the time of the wreck,
the Star-Telegram newspaper reported, citing information from
the National Weather Service.
It is unclear if the three men were chasing a "very brief"
tornado that was spotted nearby near the time of the crash,
according to online storm sighting information posted by the
service.
A total of 15 tornado sightings were reported on Tuesday in
western Texas as a storm front that brought heavy winds, hail
and rainfall pounded the region, the service said.
The fatal crash comes less than four years after three storm
chasers were among 13 people killed by tornadoes that rampaged
through central Oklahoma in June of 2013.
"Tragedy strikes our community once again, confirming 3 storm
chasers killed west of Spur TX. Now is the time to pray not
share names," storm chaser Jeff Piotrowski said on Twitter.
(Reporting by Brendan O'Brien in Milwaukee; Editing by Michael
Perry)
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