Madill hit by tornado; Two related fatalities confirmed

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A large tornado touched down across Madill Wednesday afternoon leaving a still as of yet unknown path of damage.

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  • Emergency personnel used the Walmart parking lot as a staging area to access the damage from the tornado. Photo by Matt Caban
    Emergency personnel used the Walmart parking lot as a staging area to access the damage from the tornado. Photo by Matt Caban
  • First responders rush to the scene where a vehicle was smashed from the tornado. Photo by Matt Caban
    First responders rush to the scene where a vehicle was smashed from the tornado. Photo by Matt Caban
  • Members of the Madill Fire Department and their truck parked on a stretch of Highway 377 close to where a person was killed during a tornado April 22. Photo by Matt Caban
    Members of the Madill Fire Department and their truck parked on a stretch of Highway 377 close to where a person was killed during a tornado April 22. Photo by Matt Caban
  • J & I received quite a bit of damage after the tornado touched down on top of the building. Photo by Matt Caban
    J & I received quite a bit of damage after the tornado touched down on top of the building. Photo by Matt Caban
  • A truck was totaled from a tornado that touched down in Madill on April 22. Photo by Matt Caban
    A truck was totaled from a tornado that touched down in Madill on April 22. Photo by Matt Caban
  • A tornado rips through Madill, one resident caught it on camera. This is on Biles Road. *Photo courtesy of Bobbylee Skinner*
    A tornado rips through Madill, one resident caught it on camera. This is on Biles Road. *Photo courtesy of Bobbylee Skinner*
  • A tornado rips through Madill, one resident caught it on camera. This is on Biles Road. *Photo courtesy of Bobbylee Skinner*
    A tornado rips through Madill, one resident caught it on camera. This is on Biles Road. *Photo courtesy of Bobbylee Skinner*
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***Update 4/23 8:30 a.m.**

A report released this morning by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol's Troop F confirmed additional details of yesterday's weather-related fatality on SH99C and US377.

A report authored by Trooper Austin Ludwyck stated the fatality incident occurred at approximately 5:03 p.m. when the lone vehicle involved, a 2012 Smart Car For Two driven by Chad Weyant, 46 of Madill, was struck by a tornado while on the roadway.

As as result the driver, Weyant, was ejected from the vehicle for an unknown distance, and found in the median. Weyant was pronounced deceased at the scene by Medical Examiner Investigator Leroy Johnson. Meanwhile, the vehicle was located in a neighboring field. 

Ludwyck is with the Carter/Love County Detachment of Troop F. OHP was assisted by the Madill Police Department and Marshall County Sheriff's Office. 

 

***Update 4/22 9:30 p.m.**

A large tornado tore through Madill Wednesday afternoon leaving a still as of yet unknown path of damage.

What is known however, is two fatalities due to the storm were confirmed by Donny Raley, Madill’s Emergency Manager and the Madill Police Department’s Public Information Officer.

The first fatality was a single vehicle collision at the intersection of Highway 99C and Highway 377 just east of J & I Manufacturing.

Captain Allen Henry, OHP commander for Trooper F, was the senior OHP officer on site. Henry said a narrative report for the fatality collision may not be available for some time. The fatality has been confirmed by OHP as Chad L. Weyant, a 46-year-old male from Madill. 

The report states his vehicle was struck by the tornado. He was ejected from the vehicle and thrown an unknown distance. 

A second fatality due to a heart attack of an unidentified person occurred near Oklahoma Steel & Wire, Raley said. However, Raley did not have further details regarding that death.

First responders formed a staging area at the Madill Wal-Mart.  

Also on site at the staging area were Marshall County Sheriff Danny Cryer, Madill Police Chief Donald Yow, Kingston Assistant Police Chief Chris Watson.

First responders from across the region came to Madill’s aid.

Power outages are being reported by both Oklahoma Gas & Electric (OG&E) and Red River Valley Electric Authority as the result of widespread downed power lines.

As of 7:45 p.m. there were 2,365 OG&E customers in Madill without power. An additional 769 Durant OG&E customers and 127 Ardmore OG&E customers were without power.

Robert Holiday, OG&E’s local community relations manager, said power would be restored to Madill and the surrounding areas as soon it was safe to do so.

Holliday said he expects outages to continue into Thursday, April 23.

Specific power outages figures for RRVEA were not available when this article was published.  

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At least one reported fatality in Madill after tornadoes ripped through the city. Oklahoma Steel and Wire was destroyed. According to witnesses, Oklahoma Steel and Wire took quite a bit of damage and all the trailers on Smiley Road are gone. Please keep coming back for updates.