Crushed, tossed and flipped: See photos of what the Kentucky tornadoes did to cars
By Brian Simms and
Alex Slitz
A composite image showing damaged vehicles following last week’s deadly series of tornadoes throughout Mayfield, Ky., Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021.
Alex Slitz
aslitz@herald-leader.com
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From tiny Bremen to Mayfield, the damage to many Western Kentucky buildings has been mind blowing, especially when you compare the structures to before and after images — many buildings are just gone.
But what isn’t gone are cars. A lot of wrecked cars with a lot of personnel affects scattered in and around the mangled automobiles and trucks.
Drone videos and images may show the size and scope of the storms, but the powerful force of the tornadoes is equally jaw-dropping when you see the aftermath of a 3,000-pound car that was tossed around as if it were a baseball.
A Chevrolet sits on hits roof in behind Chili Motors on West Broadway in Mayfield, Ky., Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021. Alex Slitz aslitz@herald-leader.com
A destroyed Ford F-150 pick-up sits amongst building debris along West Broadway Street in Mayfield. Alex Slitz aslitz@herald-leader.com
A Nissan automobile has deep cuts and slashes gouged on the hood on North 6th Street. Alex Slitz aslitz@herald-leader.com
A piece of wood sits wedged in a rim of a Dodge Ram van along Mayfield’s Paducah Road. Alex Slitz aslitz@herald-leader.com
Cars sit destroyed in a lot near Chili Motors on West Broadway in Mayfield, Ky., Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021. Alex Slitz aslitz@herald-leader.com
A 2x4 piece of lumber in the windshield of a Nissan Altima in Mayfield, Ky. Alex Slitz aslitz@herald-leader.com
A wrecked Nissan sedan sits among destroyed houses and other debris along North 6th Street in Mayfield, Ky. Alex Slitz aslitz@herald-leader.com
Debris covers the interior of a Nissan sedan parked near a destroyed home along North 6th street in Mayfield, Ky., Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021. Alex Slitz aslitz@herald-leader.com
A Nissan sedan and a Cadillac SUV sit smashed together in a lot near the First Presbyterian Church along West Broadway Street in Mayfield. Alex Slitz aslitz@herald-leader.com
A U-haul box truck sits on its side surrounded by other vehicles and debris in a lot along Paducah Road in Mayfield. Alex Slitz aslitz@herald-leader.com
A single right shoe sits in the back seat of a Nissan sedan filled with broken glass and other debris near a destroyed home along North 6th street in Mayfield, Ky. Alex Slitz aslitz@herald-leader.com
The hood ornament of a Peterbilt semi-truck sits intact around the ruins of the rest of the vehicle along East North Street in Mayfield, Ky. Alex Slitz aslitz@herald-leader.com
Little Trees air fresheners hang from the rear view mirror of a Hyundai Elantra with a cracked windshield parked near a destroyed home on North 5th Street in Mayfield, Ky. Alex Slitz aslitz@herald-leader.com
A bus belonging to First Baptist Church sits with blown out windows and a destroyed interior near the Mayfield church. Alex Slitz aslitz@herald-leader.com
A Dodge Ram passenger van sits damaged along with other vehicles and building debris in a lot along Paducah Road in Mayfield, Ky. Alex Slitz aslitz@herald-leader.com
Brian Simms has been with the Herald-Leader for 20-plus years, most recently reporting and editing coverage of restaurants, bars, food and bourbon. He is also a photographer and manages the newspapers photo archive that dates back to the late 1930s.Support my work with a digital subscription
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