This is a story of one man's response to an EF2 tornado that went through Wilson, NC (not all that far from Raleigh, in the grand scheme of things).

When you become aware that a tornado is near your present location, there are some general guidelines for immediate and appropriate action. If you are in a house, get to an interior room on the lowest floor. If you are in a trailer, find a permanent structure or ditch. If you are in a car, stop (but not under an overpass) and get out into a ditch or suitable structure.

This man, Mr. Stephen Hoag, found himself in the latter situation. He was correct in stopping the car, and even had the foresight to pull into a parking lot. What did he do at that point? He called his sister. Okay, so generally you run to shelter first, but maybe he was concerned about her. It's not first on the recommended things to do in case of a tornado list, but that's okay. What's the next logical step? Hasten into a shelter? Find a ditch? Stay in the car and pull out a camera and start recording?

At this point, with the tornado plainly visible and bearing down on him (he even remarked that it was heading right for him), he still had at least one minute to get to a shelter. Yet, he didn't find any issue with his situation. In his own words, "but it's not one of those devastation, or terrible... I mean it's picking up leaves..." Promptly, as if on queue, it proceeds to take out several transformers. In a few more moments, it even damages a structure within a couple hundred feet. Only at this point he begins to realize that this was perhaps not the safest situation to be in. Debris was beating up his vehicle, the tornado was a stone's throw away, and he prepared for the worst by telling his sister that he loved her. Alas, he missed his Darwin Award by random chance. It was [barely] not a direct hit, and none of the debris came through the window.

He has however seen the error of his ways, in what seems to be a rare step for Darwin Award contestants. "Regrets? Oh yes. Next time (I'll) keep driving," he said. Still not by the book, but a decided improvement.

For when the news article goes down, here is a link to the short Youtube video, a comprehensive documentary concerning the human decision-making process: http://www.wral.com/weather/story/9466534/

Submitted on 04/19/2011

Submitted by: Christopher
Reference: http://www.wral.com/weather/story/9466534/ 19 April 2011

Copyright © 2011 DarwinAwards.com

Candi said:
Definitely Keep: Honorable Mention
He sees the tornado coming, and instead of getting to a safe place or the heck out of Dodge, he stays and films it!?! And he doesn't consider himself in danger because 'it's only picking up leaves'!? WHAT was he THINKING!?!?! Thanks, Christopher!

James said:
Definitely Keep: Honorable Mention
"It's only picking up leaves"...famous last words if I ever heard them! I guess tornadoes pick up leaves...and cars...and transformers...and locomotives...&c. This fellow certainly cheated death! I'll go HM too! Thanks, Christopher!

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