A severe storm system touched down in Texas this week, with tornadoes and high winds devastating municipalities in the state’s south-central region. While it’s not uncommon for serious tornadoes like this to pick up large objects like cars and trucks, one rather crazy video of a lucky Chevy Silverado driver getting swept up by the storm has gone viral online this week.
This video, which was originally captured by storm chaser and photojournalist Brian Emfinger, shows the driver of a red first-generation Chevy Silverado attempting to drive down a highway somewhere in Central Texas when they are scooped by the tornado. The high winds then pick the vehicle up and flip it over as if it were a Hot Wheels diecast before it spins and lands on its side.
Omg… just going thru my video. This is a story about a red truck and a tornado…. I CANNOT believe they drove away like that. #txwx #tornado pic.twitter.com/8h0nD88xFv
— Brian Emfinger (@brianemfinger) March 22, 2022
As the winds continue to circulate, the truck somehow ends up back on four wheels, at which point the driver decides it would be best to get out of Dodge – even if their pickup is now basically destroyed. With the engine somehow still running, the driver gets back on the gas and continues driving down the interstate with the roof partially caved in and the driver’s side doors severely damaged.
While the first-generation Chevy Silverado has been out of production for quite some time, this video is a testament to the toughness of a Chevy-built truck. It’s also a testament to Texans themselves, with this driver displaying some bravery and quick thinking to keep on driving and get out of the area even after they’ve been swept up by a massive storm.
More than a dozen tornadoes were reported across Texas on Monday, with serious storms also hitting parts of the state on Tuesday, as well. Tornado watches were also in effect throughout Tuesday afternoon for neighbouring states, including eastern Louisiana, Mississippi and western Alabama.
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Comments
Saw this on motor1 this morning that driver got lucky.
Lucky driver…
If gm had any brains, they’d put it in a commmercial.
I love my two Chevy Z-71’s!
One is a 2000, ex-cab, bright red, with Mickey Thompson wheels, my best friend left it to me in his Will, the other is one I bought 13 yrs ago, a 2001 single cab pewter in color.
My 90 yr old Mom drives a ext- cab 2003 Chevy! We are Chevy tough!
“LIKE A ROCK…Chevrolet Trucks”
Need anything else be said?
Thats badass.
This was not far from me. The quick thinking brave driver was a teenager. 😉
Me too. This was near Elgin on Hwy 290. The tornado that started in Round Rock missed us by a half a mile.
I think that person needs a new truck. Chevrolet?
I can see a new trim option coming out of this the EF2 edition!
Chevrolet should hand this person a new Silverado! Just because
Shockandawe,
I say make it an ad for Stabilitrak. 😉
I need a Chevy Silverado in my life. Wow. Just wow.
If he had a Ram he’d would of outran the tornado, it happened on Twister…
No the ram quarter panels would’ve flown off already
Wow, not many ’90s movie buffs here. At least the Jeep pickup got smashed, OTOH the custom Suburban got blown up too .😉
Good thing that wasn’t a Ford with the aluminum body
I own a 2006 Chevrolet Silverado Only got 66,000 miles on it bought new in 2006 love my Chevy
Like A Rock…and Roll . Just like “Walter” the cat, the Silverado lands on its feet and keeps going. Walter must have been inside, used up one of his nine lives.
Glad the driver survived and had the sense to drive away when given the opportunity, but the driver is an idiot for being on the road in the first place. Multi-line highway in both directions, no other idiots around other than the driver of the red truck and the storm chaser filming the scene.
He was a 16 year old kid coming back from a job interview. A very lucky kid to have survived.
You never know when one may come down. Ive seen tornado warnings go on for hours and not have a tornado ( thank goodness) and Ive seen watches and warnings expire and one touch down. You never know. I hope that young man is rewarded with the job he was looking for, and a new Chevy!
…the ole Chevy shimmied and shook like Elvis singing all shook up…but kept rock and rolling…He may have been trying to get away when he rolled but he kept his cool and did great job. ..
Chevy needs to do two things immediately.
1) Find out who the owner of the truck is and get the rights to the video.
2) Give the Owner a New 2022 Silverado Trail Boss and make a Commercial with the Video, asking the Question…..”Can Ford or Dodge do This?????”
Beave
Absolutely not. The driver should not be rewarded for stupidity. Besides, the driver already received a gift… life, and the ability to drive away.
Ah yes, another reason to “Like” Texas and it’s “Fun Weather Changes”! Throw in (literally) that tough Chevy Silverado in this video and you’ve got the stuff legends are made of! I do agree, Chevy might consider using this particular instance in a commercial, of course they’d have to get all kinds of proper paperwork done first substantiating that this was a “true event” and not staged, lest they catch some crap from nonbelievers who would raise hate and discontent about this being an “FX” put together event just for commercializing purposes only. That’s the kind of world we live in…seeing might not always be believing nowadays, but I just betch’a the driver of this Chevy Truck just might have have his opinion on that matter, wink.
Wow, some great video by the storm chaser. Not sure what the driver was thinking at the time, but I’m sure he’s saying to himself thank God I was driving a Chevy truck. A good proof of point, if he had been in a Ford Aluminum body truck, he’d still be flying or deeply embedded in a field somewhere down the road. Sad to say if the roof line or structure has been compromised, it will be determined by insurance company to be unsafe and totaled. Step up Chevrolet and secure the rights to the video and give this young man a new Silverado as this video shows just how good theses Silverado’s are built. This video will result in Millions in sales to dealers and pushing the ” on the edge buyers” into showrooms around the country. Come on Chevy step up and give this young man a new Silverado. Talk about crash tests.
Tiktok has gone bonkers with LIKE A ROCK chevy theme overlaid the tornado vid – Brings tears to your eyes.
HARD AGAINST THE WIND, LIKE A ROCK
Just checking to see if this teen is going to get a new Chevy?
If chevy had half a brain they would be getting a hold of that person and trading them for a new silverado and use that truck for advertising and display it or something .
Mark you’re absolutely right if Chevy had half a brain but we’re too interested on electric vehicles
Not today Mr. Twister!
Chevrolet came through!! So happy for him. Still sad though, they couldn’t afford to owner retain the truck from the insurance and it’s going to go to auction. It was his grandfathers and holds sentimental value. Wish a shop would fix it up for him!
Chevrolet deberÃa de poner esta camioneta en exhibición junto al video para comprobar que los automóviles Chevrolet son los mejores.
Very good post, thank you for sharing useful information, keep posting.