Jodie and Lexi Owens, Oklahoma mom & teen daughter killed after getting caught in tornado while driving home in Fairview as mom of eight was on phone with family members pleading with them to get to the cellar only for vehicle to be swept in raging storm.
An Oklahoma 47-year old year mother of eight and her 13-year-old daughter have died after being caught in the grips of a tornado while driving only to be killed while on the phone with family members.
Jodie and Lexi Owens were found dead inside their van after a sudden tornado struck their vehicle while they were driving near State Highway 60 and County Road 2430 in Fairview around 10 p.m.
Oklahoma mom of eight was on phone with family warning them to take cover
Jodie Owens was on the phone with her kids warning them to take cover when the call suddenly dropped, leading to the mom and 13-year-old being reported missing, KFOR reported.
At the time the mom and teen were driving home from Fairview only to never make it back.
‘She could see a storm was coming,’ Jodie’s brother, Justin Zonts told KFOR. ‘She called her children who were still at home to say, ‘hey you need to get into a cellar.’ That’s actually when she got hit.’
The tornado tracked several miles, damaging multiple power lines and some structures.
Oklahoma mom and daughter final phone call
Stated elder sister, Otter Owens in a Facebook post, Friday night, ‘Last night I lost my baby sister and the best mother, I was on the phone with them when the tornado hit. Lexi was the best sister I could have asked for, kind and funny all the time she never failed to make me laugh. My mom helped me so much by teaching how to drive and how to do all sorts of things, She was my perfect mom. I miss you so much lexi and mom I know your in a better place now rest easy.’
A GoFundme fundraiser, launched to support the grief stricken family has to date raised over $78K.
Video shared by News 9 showed the missing mom and teen daughter’s mangled vehicle in a deserted field after the deadly storm hurled it off the highway.
Extreme weather forecast for the weekend across six mid states
‘Severe weather struck Major County last night and tragically claimed the lives of a mother and daughter,’ Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt said in a statement on X Friday morning.
‘I am praying for the family as they grieve this tragic loss, as well as those impacted by the storms. More weather risks are expected across Oklahoma this weekend. Please stay weather aware and follow guidance from local officials to keep your family safe.’
Authorities are investigating the cause of their deaths, KOCO reported. Nearly 70 million Americans are under threat from severe weather this weekend, including possible tornadoes across the Central US, ABC News reported.
Tornado watches are in effect in six states – Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri and Iowa.
At least four tornadoes tore through western Oklahoma Thursday night, the National Weather Service reported.
