A man in Arkansas is fortunate to be alive after riding out a devastating EF-3 tornado inside his van. The twister, which touched down on Tuesday evening, ripped through Pulaski and Lonoke counties at speeds of up to 165 mph, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.
Eyewitness Cody Coombes, who was in the van when the tornado struck, described the experience as "terrifying" but also said it was an unexpected turn of events. According to CNN, Coombes found himself face-to-face with the tornado's fury while driving home from work, and his pest control van proved to be a surprisingly effective shelter.
"I thought I was going to die," Coombes recounted in an interview. "The wind was so loud, it felt like my head was going to get blown off."
Coombes' harrowing tale serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by tornadoes and the importance of taking necessary precautions during severe weather events.
For those who witnessed the devastating scene unfold, Coombes' bravery and unexpected escape is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. While one person lost their life in North Little Rock and four others were killed in Wynne, many more people narrowly escaped harm, including Coombes, whose van became an unlikely sanctuary from the storm.
With estimated peak winds reaching speeds of 165 mph, this EF-3 tornado left a trail of destruction in its wake. As authorities begin to survey the damage and assess the full extent of the devastation, one thing is clear: this tornado was a force to be reckoned with.
Eyewitness Cody Coombes, who was in the van when the tornado struck, described the experience as "terrifying" but also said it was an unexpected turn of events. According to CNN, Coombes found himself face-to-face with the tornado's fury while driving home from work, and his pest control van proved to be a surprisingly effective shelter.
"I thought I was going to die," Coombes recounted in an interview. "The wind was so loud, it felt like my head was going to get blown off."
Coombes' harrowing tale serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by tornadoes and the importance of taking necessary precautions during severe weather events.
For those who witnessed the devastating scene unfold, Coombes' bravery and unexpected escape is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. While one person lost their life in North Little Rock and four others were killed in Wynne, many more people narrowly escaped harm, including Coombes, whose van became an unlikely sanctuary from the storm.
With estimated peak winds reaching speeds of 165 mph, this EF-3 tornado left a trail of destruction in its wake. As authorities begin to survey the damage and assess the full extent of the devastation, one thing is clear: this tornado was a force to be reckoned with.
i mean i'm glad he's alive but seriously what are the chances right? i think it's crazy that his pest control van became like a shelter or something, i wouldnt wanna be in a situation where my car is literally saving me from a twister 
. anyway, yeah this is super scary and a good reminder to take severe weather events seriously, hope everyone else survived too 
this guy got lucky! I mean, can you even imagine being in a van and riding out a tornado? It's crazy how some things just work out...I guess his van is like a tank or something 
. Anyways, I feel bad for all those who lost their lives, that's so tragic 
. And 165 mph is wild, I can only imagine the noise and chaos 
. I'm gonna make sure to charge my phone ASAP and get some batteries just in case 
.
! I mean, who needs a bunker when you got a van 
. And poor dude had to deal with 165mph winds and a sound that felt like his head was gonna blow off 
!
. But seriously, prayers go out to those who lost their lives and hope everyone else is doing okay 
.
. Guess that's just what happens when life throws you curveballs 
️
at least his van held up, not sure how many other people got so lucky 
Anyway glad Coombes made it out alive, hope his friends and family in North Little Rock are doing okay too