3 storm chasers die in car wreck

By Brian Lada, AccuWeather meteorologist and staff writer

By Courtney Barrow, AccuWeather staff writer

March 29, 2017, 9:08:57 AM EDT

A fatal car crash occurred on Tuesday afternoon near Spur, Texas, involving three storm chasers amid a severe weather outbreak.

Kelley Williamson, 57, Randy Yarnall, 55, and Corbin Jaeger, 25, were killed upon impact, according to police. Williamson and Yarnall, both of Cassville, Missouri, were contractors for The Weather Channel, featured in the network's special program Storm Wranglers.

The two cars collided at a rural crossroad as the chasers were in the middle of a livestream. Investigators believe that one of the two vehicles ran a stop sign.

Kelley Williamson and Randy Yarnall pose for a photo with friends. (Facebook/Jennifer McMahan)

"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."

Jaeger, of Peoria, Arizona, was also a storm chaser for MadWx. According to his biography on the company's website, he's been chasing since 2014.

Corbin Jaeger (Facebook/Corbin Lee Jaeger)

Texas Department of Public Safety troopers said that the weather did not directly cause the accident, although a tornado-warned thunderstorm was nearby.

"The storm chaser community is a very unique, close-knit group of friends and family who are driven by a common passion for extreme weather," said AccuWeather Extreme Meteorologist Reed Timmer. "Their shared passion and experience for chasing tornadoes, and especially for warning people in their path, will be forever missed here in Tornado Alley and beyond."

"They were incredible people who inspired so many," said Timmer.

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