Three OU meteorology students die in car crash Friday on way home from storm chasing
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A tight-knit group of weather lovers and storm chasers is grieving immediately after the deaths of 3 University of Oklahoma meteorology students in a auto crash late Friday when returning to Norman from storm chasing in Kansas.
The reduction of the learners, Nicholas Nair, 20, of Denton, Texas Gavin Brief, 19, of Grayslake, Illinois and Drake Brooks, 22, of Evansville, Indiana, prompted quite a few to specific their grief, but also to recall why they liked them.
Leigh O’Neil, a geographic details science significant at OU, said the a few college students were being the “kindest, smartest people today” she’d ever fulfilled. O’Neil said a selfie of the three mugging for the digital camera that they sent to their good friends Friday is a excellent representation of how funny they were being.
“You could not be all around them devoid of laughing your ass off,” she stated.
“They actually would do just about anything to assistance many others out, even prior to their possess effectively staying,” O’Neil additional. “They are already missed drastically. Their loss is insanely agonizing for us all.”
Fatal collision transpired all through rainstorm in northern Oklahoma
Nair, Small and Brooks were being driving southbound on a soaked Interstate 35 in close proximity to Tonkawa when their SUV hydroplaned, left the roadway to the suitable and then arrived back onto the freeway and stopped. The 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan was struck by a semi traveling in the same course, according to Oklahoma Highway Patrol.
The a few were being pronounced lifeless at the scene about 85 miles north of Oklahoma Metropolis. Tonkawa Fire Department officials and paramedics worked approximately five and a 50 percent several hours to take out them from the wreckage. The semi truck driver was transported to a hospital in Blackwell but has considering that been released.
The incident took position about 11:23 p.m. Friday night time, just a few hours right after the pupils witnessed a modest twister north of Herrington, Kansas, according to their Twitter accounts.
Evan Short, 17, Gavin Short’s younger brother, stated Gavin “lived extra in his 1.5 yrs at OU than in his initially 18 yrs of lifestyle.”
“I can obtain solace in the strategy that now he can dwell amid the clouds which he cherished so a lot,” Evan Shorter mentioned.
OU’s University of Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences issued a assertion saying that as finals weeks approaches, counseling was available “as we all grieve this unthinkable heartbreak.”
“Our community in Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences is close-knit, and our Faculty of Meteorology is really a lot a family. Now, additional than ever, we must come together in kindness and heartfelt assistance for a person a different. Make sure you be part of us in giving ideas and prayers for people most impacted, and supplying them with privateness,” the statement stated.
Meteorological local community mourns OU students’ demise on social media
All those in the weather and meteorology local community took to Twitter Saturday to categorical their condolences in excess of the information.
Chris Dixon, a fellow OU meteorology university student, was component of a separate team of college students storm chasing Friday. He saw his very first twister in excess of Andover, Kansas, but woke up Saturday to hear that three peers had died.
“Terms are not able to explain this rollercoaster of feelings from one of the best points of my lifestyle to 1 of the most near-to-house significant types,” Dixon wrote on Twitter Saturday.
A effectively acknowledged storm chaser and OU meteorology alum Reed Timmer referred to as the students close friends and stated they are shut to his heart.
“My ideas and prayers go out to their households and friends,” Timmer reported.
This report initially appeared on Oklahoman: 3 OU Meteorology pupils die on I-35 immediately after Kansas storm chasing
