Drake Brooks, 22, Nicholas Nair, 20, and Gavin Short, 19, were killed in a vehicle accident on Interstate 35 near the Oklahoma-Kansas border, the OU College of Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences confirmed.
While driving home from their chase, the trio was overtaken by an intensifying line of thunderstorms along a cold front sinking across the Southern Plains. In what was probably torrential rain, the vehicle hydroplaned, eventually losing control and stopping in another lane. A semitruck hit the vehicle shortly after, according to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.
The accident is the most recent reminder that storm chasing is a dangerous endeavor, the driving perhaps as perilous as the twisters. Storm chasers have long recognized the hazard of traveling, but are willing to accept the risk to pursue their passion.
The weather community has united in grieving the loss of the three students and honoring their legacy.
Driving: an underrated risk
Over the years, only a few chasers have died because of tornadoes. Tim Samaras, his son Paul, and Carl Young were killed in May 2013 at the foot of the world’s widest-observed tornado in El Reno, Okla.
But several other recent chaser accidents have involved driving.
Storm chaser Andy Gabrielson was killed in 2012 when a drunk driver hit his vehicle while returning home from a chase, according to Earth Sky. Weather Channel storm chasers Kelley Williamson and Randall Yarnall died in 2017 when they ran a stop sign while pursuing a storm and killed Corbin Lee Jaeger.
Stopped at the TWISTEX Memorial to drop of 3 Cheeseburgers to honor the lives of 3 OU Students gone too soon. Cleaned the memorial and prayed for them and their families as well as for their guidance in keeping us all save in the field. Gone but not forgotten. #RIPOU3 pic.twitter.com/5jzcifkPlD
— Brandon Copic (@BrandonCopicWx) May 1, 2022
“Driving is the most dangerous part of any mobile job and especially storm chasing because the conditions are so bad,” Reed Timmer, a world-famous tornado chaser, wrote in a Twitter message. “My heart hurts for these kids. They were such good, talented people.”
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, about 21 percent of vehicle crashes are weather-related. “On average, nearly 5,000 people are killed and over 418,000 people are injured in weather-related crashes each year,” it wrote.
Seventy percent of weather-related crashes were on wet pavement, as were 76 percent of weather-related traffic fatalities.
For chasers, stormy weather comes with the territory.
Nic, Gavin, Drake, I love you all from the bottom of my heart. All I want to do if hug y’all and let you know the impact y’all have had on my life. Y’all are the most kind, motivated, selfless, strong people I know. I’m honored you three were apart of my life. #RIPOU3 pic.twitter.com/IMmaqDOm5L
— Robby Frost (@robbyfrostwx) April 30, 2022
The violent storms that erupt every spring in the Plains are a big draw for aspiring meteorologists at OU — as the outdoors becomes their laboratory. The university is home to one of the largest meteorology programs in the country, known for its severe weather research.
The OU meteorology department “does not condone or encourage storm chasing by students,” except as part of field missions. “Anyone who chooses to chase storms does so at their own risk and should not imply that their activities are connected with the University,” its website says.
In interviews, five friends of Brooks, Nair and Short described their passion for the atmosphere and dedication to communicating weather information to help keep people safe. The friends spoke on the condition of anonymity because they said they did not feel comfortable talking publicly during a moment of tragedy.
Heaven gained 3 beautiful souls last night. I will miss the laughs you gave me, and the joy you brought whenever you walked into the room Nic. I did not know Gavin and Drake as well, but we had mutual friends through SoM who talked nothing but positively about you both. #RIPOU3 pic.twitter.com/w2NSMLGt2r
— Dylan Strilko🌪 (@StrilkoWX) April 30, 2022
Brooks came to Oklahoma from Evansville, Ind. In addition to loving the weather, he was an avid gamer and aviation enthusiast. A forecaster before he was a storm chaser, Brooks covered regular shifts with the Oklahoma Weather Lab, a student-run weather service.
Nair hailed from Denton, Tex. His smile was frequently seen while he was delivering the forecast on OU Nightly, a daily news program produced by the school. Nair was recently elected to be an officer for the OU’s local chapter of the American Meteorological Society (AMS).
Short came to OU from Grayslake, Ill. An Eagle Scout and National Honor Society member, he participated in the OU Weather Lab, and was also recently elected as an officer of the OU AMS chapter. He was always ready with a hilarious pop culture reference. His specialty was winter weather forecasting.
The three were particularly well-known for always being there to help their peers. In the words of one grief-stricken friend, “their presence lit up the building.”
Brooks, Nair and Short were part of the tightknit Met Crew Chase team, a group of student chasers. One friend pointed to how a chance encounter with Timmer — an OU graduate — helped bring them together.
While sledding after a big storm snowed them in early last year, Timmer convinced them to form the group. Timmer still has their sticker on his chase vehicle. It was given to him by the trio in spring 2021.
“These students are close to my heart and a shining light in the weather community. Words cannot describe the sadness,” Timmer tweeted.
Drake, Gavin, and Nic. You were my best friends and brought so much happiness and laughter to my life. I can’t believe you’re gone, but your memories will never be forgotten and we will make sure of it. I will forever love and miss you guys🤍 pic.twitter.com/dYVmH8VJTn
— Mara Davis (@marajdaviswx) April 30, 2022
The gut-wrenching news of their early passing has rocked OU and the weather community.
“Drake, Nic, and Gavin were united in a shared passion,” OU’s president Joseph Harroz wrote in an email to the local community Sunday morning. “As we grieve this immeasurable and profound loss, we also remember the root of their chosen calling, which was to help others.”
The Norman office of the National Weather Service — located at OU — dedicated a weather balloon launch to the three and numerous others followed suit including those in Rapid City, S.D., New Orleans, Atlanta and Morehead City, N.C.
On this very sad day in the Norman weather community, our evening weather balloon launch is dedicated to Nic, Drake and Gavin – OU meteorology students who died in a tragic traffic accident last night. pic.twitter.com/49q2eepp8l
— NWS Norman (@NWSNorman) April 30, 2022
“I keep thinking about what a lovely gesture it was: Sending these three young men’s names soaring into the atmosphere that they admired,” tweeted Robin Tanamachi, a professor of atmospheric science at Purdue University.
The hashtag #RIPOU3 on Twitter has filled with remembrance of the students. Condolences have come from across the weather world, ranging from academia to government and major organizations such as AccuWeather and AMS.
AMS extends our sincerest condolences to The OU School of Meteorology, and the friends and families of Gavin, Nic, and Drake. The weather community comes together to grieve and remember their impact. #RIPOU3 https://t.co/fvCcCFC3I8
— American Meteorological Society (@ametsoc) May 2, 2022