3 storm chasers killed when their cars collide in Texas storm

Three storm chasers on the trail of a tornado-packed storm front were killed Tuesday in a car wreck in northwest Texas.

The three were in two vehicles that collided. 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, around 3:30 p.m., the Star-Telegram newspaper reported.

All three died at the scene near Spur, Texas, about 70 miles east of Lubbock, the newspaper reported.

Williamson and Yarnall were contractors for the Weather Channel. "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."

The men, both from Missouri, were featured on the network's Storm Wranglers special on storm chasers.

Jaeger was from Peoria, Ill.

Williamson, who was driving the Suburban, was not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected from the vehicle during the wreck. The others were wearing seatbelts.

The area was under a tornado warning at the time, according to the National Weather Service. It was unclear whether the weather conditions were a factor in the crash. Nor was it clear if the three men were chasing a "very brief" tornado spotted nearby.

A total of 15 tornado sightings were reported on Tuesday in West Texas as a storm front that brought heavy winds, hail and rainfall pounded the region, the service said. It knocked out power to 100,000 customers in North Texas.

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.

The crash comes less than four years after the June 2013 deaths of three storm chasers, who were among 13 people killed by tornadoes in Oklahoma.

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