Man Survives Tornado in His Van, Says 'It Was Like Riding a Rollercoaster'
In a harrowing account of survival, Cody Coombes recounted his experience riding out a tornado in Little Rock, Arkansas, inside his pest control van. The EF-3 tornado that ripped through Pulaski and Lonoke counties on April 2 left one person dead in North Little Rock and four others in Wynne.
According to Coombes, the sudden storm caught him off guard, but he quickly sought shelter in his vehicle, a specially equipped van designed for pest control. "It was like riding a rollercoaster," he said, describing the intense experience. The winds were so strong that trees swayed violently and debris flew through the air.
The National Weather Service reported peak winds of 165 mph during the tornado's passage. Coombes' van was able to withstand the extreme conditions, allowing him to ride out the storm in relative safety.
Despite the terror of being caught in the tornado's path, Coombes expressed gratitude for his quick thinking and the protection of his vehicle. "I feel really fortunate that I was able to get inside my van and wait it out," he said.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of severe weather and the importance of seeking shelter immediately when a tornado warning is issued. The full video of Coombes' account can be seen on CNN's website.
In a harrowing account of survival, Cody Coombes recounted his experience riding out a tornado in Little Rock, Arkansas, inside his pest control van. The EF-3 tornado that ripped through Pulaski and Lonoke counties on April 2 left one person dead in North Little Rock and four others in Wynne.
According to Coombes, the sudden storm caught him off guard, but he quickly sought shelter in his vehicle, a specially equipped van designed for pest control. "It was like riding a rollercoaster," he said, describing the intense experience. The winds were so strong that trees swayed violently and debris flew through the air.
The National Weather Service reported peak winds of 165 mph during the tornado's passage. Coombes' van was able to withstand the extreme conditions, allowing him to ride out the storm in relative safety.
Despite the terror of being caught in the tornado's path, Coombes expressed gratitude for his quick thinking and the protection of his vehicle. "I feel really fortunate that I was able to get inside my van and wait it out," he said.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of severe weather and the importance of seeking shelter immediately when a tornado warning is issued. The full video of Coombes' account can be seen on CNN's website.
... like, how did he not get hurt more seriously? his van was designed for pest control lol 
, but still what a crazy experience! riding a rollercoaster is one thing, but actual tornadoes are on whole different level 
... 165mph winds?!?! thats insane 
... glad he made it out alive and with only emotional scars 
, but yeah its super important to be prepared for those kinds of emergencies 
. The National Weather Service reports those 165mph winds, though... no wonder it felt like riding a rollercoaster 
.
. We're lucky that Cody made some quick decisions to save his life - we should all learn from this experience and prioritize our safety during extreme weather conditions 
anyway, just another reminder to always keep an eye out for those weather warnings, folks! Stay safe out there 
I know, I'm not saying it's a cover-up or anything, but come on, what are the chances that van just happened to be the best shelter option in that area? 
. Reminds me of when Facebook was still a new thing and we'd get those crazy weather alerts on our mobiles 
. Anyway, that van dude needs a medal for survival skills 
!