Latest news with #Lewistown
Forbes
4 days ago
- Climate
- Forbes
What It's Like To Be Trapped Inside Of A Tornado, Then Live To Tell The Tale?
What's left of a storm chaser's Toyota Camry following a direct hit from an EF-3 tornado. All four occupants, including Tanner Charles, miraculously were unharmed. (Near Lewistown, Illinois, April 4, 2023.) Tanner Charles Tanner Charles, all of 32, has seen his share of tornadoes as a storm chaser. His first confirmed twister was in 2010, with his father, near Monticello, Minnesota. Growing up in the tiny town of Kingston, Minnesota, population less than 200, Tanner had always been fascinated by extreme weather. The first "Twister" movie helped fuel that interest. He even thinks he saw a tornado as an eight-year-old, but is not certain. "It could have been my imagination," he says, laughing. Downed power lines near Lewistown, Illinois, April 4, 2023. Tanner Charles By 2023, Tanner had chased more than 100 twisters, some big ones and some very up-close-and-personal - like from 100 yards away. On a lark, he went out April 4 in a red Toyota Camry with three experienced chaser friends - Hunter, Riley and Tyler. Tanner wasn't leading the chase, as is often the case, just a passenger in the left-side backseat, mainly to have fun and capture some video. Earlier, the group had identified an interesting supercell building near Lewistown, Illinois, so they hightailed it eight long hours for an intercept. Now just because a supercell has all of the ingredients to drop a tornado, often it doesn't, one of the mysteries of chasing. So it's all a bit of hit-or-miss, and can be frustrating. The birth of a large tornado (right) near Lewiston, Illinois, April 4, 2023. Tanner Charles Lewistown was definitely a hit, though. As the group approached the massive mesocyclone,, it was throwing off golf ball-sized hail. The thing was moving too fast, about 50 mph, to get in front of, so a decision had to be made whether to punch through to see if a tornado was on the other side, or just abandon the chase. They decided to go for it. Indeed, a tornado was dropping on the other side, a large funnel about halfway down with debris under it already swirling at ground level. Tanner estimates they were about three miles away from the thing at this point, so there was plenty of distance between it and them to be safe. Full-blown tornado just outside of Lewistown, Illinois, April 4, 2023. Tanner Charles When they came to an intersection, the tornado was getting closer, maybe a mile-and-a-half away now. But at that point, they turned onto a paved road, eliminating one danger - the chance of getting stuck in mud. What happened next no one could have foreseen. Strong winds knocked down power lines near the car. Tanner could see and hear violent arcs hitting the ground, so he knew the lines were live. That meant it would be extremely risky to exit the car. Basically, at that point, the chasers couldn't move and were sitting ducks as the tornado was growing in size - and heading directly toward them at 45 mph.. Downed power lines send dangerous arcs to the road near Lewistown, Illinois, April 4, 2023. Tanner Charles As it approached, the roar became deafening, even worse when the vacuum of the twister's vortex blew out the car windows. Then all hell broke loose. Each member of the team reacted differently, from screaming to praying. Tanner, who is quite religious, was doing the latter. A huge hunk of sheet metal from a destroyed grain silo sliced through the vehicle's back window. Luckily, Tanner and his fellow chasers had already ducked down into their seats. 'It literally would have taken our heads off,' Tanner says. A strange calmness suddenly came over Tanner. He says he saw a vision of an angel holding down the car. That didn't stop him from praying, though, and he can be seen vigorously doing so in a stunning video (link below). After the tornado had had its way with them, it became eerily quiet with some gently falling rain. A police car stopped and asked if they were okay. Miraculously, they were. As a precaution, another storm chaser took them to a nearby hospital as the damaged Toyota was not drivable. Absolute insanity ensues as a storm-chase group of four endures a direct hit by an EF-3 tornado while hunkered down in their Toyota Camry near Lewistown, Illinois, April 4, 2023. Tanner Charles Safely back home, all four took time off from chasing to process the near-death experience. The tornado later was determined to be at least an EF-3, pretty strong, a killer. One of the chasers even went through therapy. Within a few months, though, the four were out chasing again, the adrenaline addiction being so powerful, but with new-found caution and learning. First, says Tanner, make sure each member of the chase crew has a specific responsibility - navigator, cameraman, driver, whatever. Because theirs was a makeshift crew that didn't normally work together, those duties hadn't been delineated beforehand. Nobody seemed in charge when things got crazy, so different instructions were being barked out haphazardly by all four men. Storm chaser Tanner Charles near Gary, South Dakota, June 28, 2025. Courtesy of Tanner Charles Second, understand that the closer you get to a twister, the more risk you take. The thing can suddenly grow and/or change directions unexpectedly as the infamous El Reno wedge tornado did in 2013, killing three well-known chasers. If something freakish happens, like those downed power lines, what seems like a safe distance can quickly turn into a nightmare. Tanner's dramatic story, along with other chasers who had had similar experiences, was captured in a summer 2024 feature on The Discovery Channel, "In The Eye Of The Storm.' A part 2 is planned for this year, says Tanner.
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Yahoo
Mifflin County man arrested for disarming police officer, possessing marijuana
LEWISTOWN, Pa. (WHTM) — A Mifflin County man is facing multiple charges after allegedly disarming a police officer during an arrest and being found in possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia last Tuesday. According to a Facebook post from the Lewistown Police Department, 19-year-old Ryan Richard Marks, of Lewistown, was charged with possession with intent to deliver drugs, disarming a law enforcement officer, and resisting arrest after allegedly taking full control of an officer's Taser while being detained. According to the post, on June 3, a concerned citizen reported to authorities that Marks was 'in possession of several illegal firearms.' The post says Marks had been arrested multiple times by Lewistown police in the past for drug delivery offenses and was subject to several investigations involving firearms. The post says Marks had a warrant out for his arrest, and a uniformed police officer spotted him walking through town with a backpack on. The police officer approached Marks in an attempt to arrest him, but Marks immediately took off on foot, the post said. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now After chasing Marks through East Third Street, Valley Street, and Short Alley, the post says the officer found him underneath a stairwell, drew their weapon, and gave him several commands. Marks did not obey and was pushed to the ground. According to the post, a lone bystander, who allegedly had no knowledge of what had transpired, began 'interfering with the lone officer who was trying to arrest a potentially armed fugitive.' The post says the officer put his weapon in his holster and discharged a Taser to attempt to gain compliance from Marks, but Marks refused to place his hands behind his back. The officer discharged the Taser again, and Marks began to comply. However, the post says that as the officer was trying to secure Marks' hands, Marks grabbed the Taser from the officer and began to stand up. According to the post, the officer withdrew his firearm again, as Marks had 'complete control of the Taser,' and the officer delivered two defensive strikes with his firearm on Marks. Two other police officers eventually arrived and were able to secure Marks in handcuffs. Police also secured Marks' bag, the post said. The post added that Marks was arguing, yelling racial slurs, and spitting blood on officers while being walked to a patrol vehicle. Marks was found to be in possession of two half-gallon Mason jars that contained marijuana, over $2,000 in cash, and a digital scale. Marks was sent to the Mifflin County Correctional Facility and is currently awaiting his preliminary hearing on June 11 at 9 a.m. This is a developing story. Stay with abc27 News as more information becomes available Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Yahoo
Students rip cell phone apart, causing fire on Mifflin County school bus
LEWISTOWN, Pa. (WHTM) — At least one middle schooler will face charges after police say a group of them tore apart a cell phone on a school bus, causing a fire. According to Lewistown Police, this happened around 7:44 a.m. on May 9. Four 12-year-olds were seen on surveillance video tearing apart a cell phone on the bus, police said in a release Friday. The students bent the battery, causing sparks, before one stomped on the battery. The battery caught fire moments later and caused a panic on the bus, police said. An uninvolved student dumped water on the fire, extinguishing it. Police said the fire caused the floor of the bus to melt. No one was injured and police said charges will be filed against at least one student involved. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
