One more reminder about the number of people killed in traffic accidents vs violent weather.

http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/28/us/storm-chasers-fatal-crash-texas/index.html

The crash occurred when a black Suburban traveling north on Farm to Market Road 1081 about 3:30 p.m. ran through a stop sign and collided with a Jeep traveling west on Farm to Market Road 2794, according to Sgt. John Gonzalez of the Texas Department of Public Safety.

 

There are too many amateur storm chasers on the road and they're creating a hazard for other drivers.

There was also a recent incident with 10 "volcano peepers" getting hit with explosive debris at Mount Etna in Italy. If you try to play with Nature, it will always win!!!

 

Police say Williamson and Yarnell failed to stop on the intersection while heading north and struck fellow storm tracker Corbin Lee Jaeger, 25, as he pulled through the intersection from the east.

It appears the crash may have impacted the video since the footage freezes at the end but audio continues. However, the crash is not heard.

Williamson wasn't wearing his seat belt at the time of the crash and was ejected from the SUV.

All three victims were pronounced dead at the scene.

Authorities said the weather had nothing to do with the crash.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4361936/Video-moments-storm-chasers-killed-crash.html


Chasers kills Chaser in this case.

 

Darwin won this one.

 

Is there actually a point to storm chasing? ... my question is sincere ... the city where I live has never, ever experienced a tornado (though we've had our fair share of hurricanes) and I wonder if those "professional" storm chasers contribute valuable scientific insights or not ... Or do they do this sort of thing just for adventure, or to sell their videos and photographs to the news media?

 

Is there actually a point to storm chasing? ... my question is sincere ... the city where I live has never, ever experienced a tornado (though we've had our fair share of hurricanes) and I wonder if those "professional" storm chasers contribute valuable scientific insights or not ... Or do they do this sort of thing just for adventure, or to sell their videos and photographs to the news media?

It seems to be mainly weather porn for some like the guys that were killed in this story but some were doing it for science like Tim Samaras who was killed a few years ago by a tornado.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/tornado-chasers-words-die-article-1.1363087