Dashcam captures moment TN driver gets caught in tornado

MAURY COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) — A driver’s dashboard camera captured a terrifying moment Wednesday as an EF3 tornado crossed Interstate 65 near Columbia.

The driver stopped as the tornado passed over the highway. That’s when, amid a blur of rain and wind, a white van could be seen tumbling out of the sky. The van landed upside down on the side of the highway.

The man was on the phone with his wife while this was happening. During the video, they can be heard praying, with the man repeatedly shouting, “God, please protect me.” He and his wife, who was driving behind him, were not injured.

At this time, it is still not known whether the driver of the van was injured. A National Weather Service investigation team said the tornado touched down near Spring Hill around 5:45 p.m., reaching wind speeds of up to 140 miles per hour and spanning a half-mile wide.

A woman died after her mobile home was thrown into trees by the tornado and at least 12 other people were injured, according to first responders. Authorities said the woman who died was at home when the tornado struck.

Gov. Bill Lee spent time Thursday assessing the damage and touring some of the hardest-hit areas, including where the death was reported. Maury County Emergency Agency Director Jeff Hardy told Lee and other state officials that 105 homes were damaged in the storms.

Maury County was one of several areas affected by tornadoes during severe weather on Wednesday, May 8th. So far, authorities have confirmed that at least four tornadoes have touched down in the Middle Tennessee area.