Riley Leon Takes Delivery Of New Chevy Silverado
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Riley Leon, the 16-year-old Chevy Silverado driver that survived a direct encounter with a tornado earlier this month, has received a brand-new 2022 Chevy Silverado 1500 LT All-Star Edition, finished in Cherry Red.
For those readers who may have missed it, Leon was behind the wheel of his red Chevy Silverado pickup when the truck was caught in a tornado, flipping the vehicle onto its side and spinning it on the pavement before high-speed winds flipped it back onto its wheels, allowing Leon to escape. The harrowing experience was captured on video by storm chaser and photojournalist Brian Emfinger, who uploaded the video to social media.
The video quickly went viral. Although follow-up reports showed that Leon’s Chevy Silverado was still running, the truck was nonetheless heavily damaged. Leon was mostly unhurt, only suffering minor cuts and bruises, but the truck had deep scratches along the flanks where it scraped against the pavement, plus a missing sideview mirror, crumpled body panels, and more.
Many enthusiasts and Chevy fans called on General Motors to gift Leon with a new vehicle, and now, the automaker has done exactly that. Leon received his new Chevy Silverado on Saturday, March 26th, courtesy of Bruce Lowrie Chevrolet of Fort Worth, Texas.
“When Riley’s Chevy Silverado was hit by 100 mph winds, its strength was tested like never before. Thankfully, he was able to walk away unharmed,” Chevrolet posted to social media in conjunction with the delivery. “Here’s to making memories in your new truck.”
In addition to providing Riley with a new Chevy Silverado, General Motors is also donating $50,000 to the Red Cross to support disaster relief efforts in Texas.
Texas wasn’t the only state to undergo severe weather this month. Tornadoes also swept across several other southern states, including Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Oklahoma, and South Carolina. Initial reports indicate that at least five people have died and more than 1,300 homes were either damaged or destroyed by the storms.
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He looks serious in that first pic, but the happy/thankful grin shows through when we gets handed the keys.
… sincere did not understood why GM should give her a new PickUp Truck when GM was no Guilty she was driving inside a Tornado,,, really, do not agree with the Marketing… Her Insurance says it is a third Nature Factor and that is it …
Probably because the marketing value of this feel good story is far more than the cost of the new truck. It has been on this site several times and the local news as well in central TX. I imagine coverage in Dallas area is even higher. I think it even made national news. All for the price of a truck. You are not in marketing for sure.
… yeah, maybe.. an easier cheaper Propaganda then… you could be right.
Maybe doing a TV Ad costs more than $ 15 000 and it does not bring same bs sentimental effect
Very nice. Marketing value aside, this is a great human interest story where God, Man and Machine all came together for a very positive outcome. Kudos and accolades to GM, the dealer Bruce Lowrie Chevrolet, Riley Leon, and the Red Cross for a very pleasant outcome. Bless all. Drive safe and enjoy your travels. Riley needs to put an emblem, card, medallion or decal of St. Christopher in his new truck.
… he was just lucky… it has nothing with God to do
Ummm, it a he, I’m pretty sure!
… yeah… saw after it is this Cowboy … but in linkedin saw a girl instead, so the why
Why do you keep saying her?
… wrote above… thought the cowboy was a kind of Ad … forget it
… seems a Mexican, you know … the name did not told me if a he or she, then today with the LGBTXYWZ thing we never know what is what … but u are right seems a guy who loves to go in Mc Donald’s for a 3 Burger
Jealous much?
Riley is a Young Man NOT a Girl!
What the f**k are you talking about??????
Well, first of all, HE is not a SHE, so let’s just get that out of the way. Second of all, giving that truck away, was pocket change for GM, considering what they will gain in publicity. It’s a win/win situation. Why don’t you try being happy for someone, instead of being a salty “B.” 🤷🏻♀️
… anyway… maybe GM could make the same Ad to the Ukrainians who lost their Chevrolet hit by Bombs,,, seems more appropriate if wants to get my feelings throat down for a humanitarian help… AvtoVAZ produced some
when was employee of GM in 1995 and they put me on night shift, … had to buy a car, they did not give any of factory to ‘help’ me… then look for the cheapest and bought a Fiat… which only brought me headache but served to ride to go to work for them … so this not-worker of GM was more lucky than me as ex worker, just saying how is weight measure of car companies …
Again, what the f**k are talking about?????
MK was not loved enough as a kid, The hatred MK has is going to slowly eat away at their soul.
That truly is a heart warming story!)as for Chevy being focklike..I would use mine on our family farm but my1996c3500 up&stopped@february&the struggle is real!BRAVO! to general motors for their genuine,unprecedented act of selflessness!
I’m just surprised that GM was able to get Riley a complete Silverado so quickly and not have to tell it’s in transit!
Again not being smart is rewarded in this country. If you see a huge storm pull over in a safe place. Amazing that they can’t get chips for all the orders they have for new vehicles, me included, but can give one away to reward doing something unsafe.
Can he still go lemon law when he finds the tranny is trash?
GM knows a golden egg was laid at it’s door & ran with it!
The price of the truck was pennies to the advertising dollars this story gave them.
I am glad that Mr. Riley was OK and able to return home, that’s really all that matters.
Hopefully he can keep his old truck for good luck.
If the wind had not blown the truck back upright and then driven off..probably a non story then?
Nice gesture and all but is this just putting GM in the limelight. I’ve been waiting 16 months to get my 21 Silverado and nobody is going to give me a truck for waiting this long. GM says just be patient but that ran out a long time ago
You can always go looking for a tornado?
If he were not a minority GM would not of done this .The Country is all about the Minorities and giving them Free everything now .
Not the same Bill as above, I don’t know what having to be a minority has to do with getting a free truck. Like I said just find that golden tornado!
Since I have been waiting a year now for my new Sierra maybe I should drive my Sierra off a cliff and maybe I might get mine next week???
Anything’s possible, how bad do you want a Sierra?
Just read all of MK’s responses . . . . confusing ! I wonder if even MK knows what MK is talking about?
I’ve been trying to figure that sh*t all day?
Wouldn’t it be funny that he was deported soon after this.
Smart PR move by Chevy. I’m watching the weather channel for tornadoes within driving range ….
Sharp looking truck. Gee, smile Riley.