Tornado Truckers: Big rigs shield Alabama woman from twister on I-65 Share Updated: 2:30 PM CST Feb 7, 2021 Share Updated: 2:30 PM CST Feb 7, 2021
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Show Transcript JON: AT THIS HOUR, 15 CAGES FOR DOGS AND CATS ARE AVAILABLE. THIS MORNING WE’RE HEARING NEW STORIES OF SURVIVAL. TAKE MELINDA MAYNARD, FROM MADISON. SHE WAS ON HER WAY HOME FROM ORANGE BEACH WHEN TRAFFIC ON INTERSTATE 65 CAME TO A HALT. AS COREY PIPPIN REPORTS, MELINDA SAYS SHE’S ONLY ALIVE TODAY BECAUSE OF WHAT HAPPENED NEXT. >> THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO. I WOULD HAVE DROVE RIGHT INTO THAT TORNADO IF THEY HADN’T BLOCKED ME. >> MAYNARD WAS ON HER WAY HOME HOME FROM ORANGE BEACH ON MONDAY WINTER TRIP TOOK A FRIGHTENING TURN. TRAFFIC CAME TO A HALT AT EXIT 267 OUTSIDE OF FULTONDALE, AND MAYNARD SAID THAT’S WHEN SHE REALIZED SOMETHING WAS WRONG. WHAT YOU COULDN’T SEE WAS IN EF THREE TORNADO PACKING 150 MILES HOUR WINDS, CROSSED IN FRONT OF THE MULTIPLE BIG RIG TRUCKERS WHO STOPPED TO BLOCK HER PATH. >> ONE OF THE GUYS JUMPED OUT AND SAID IT’S A TORNADO COME AND WE ARE BLOCKING YOU. I DIDN’T HAVE CELL PHONE SERVICE AND I WAS TERRIFIED. I THOUGHT, I’M NOT GOING TO GET TO TALK TO MY KIDS. I’M NOT GOING TO GET TO TALK TO MY FAMILY. I THOUGHT THAT WAS IT. >> MAYNARD, A MOTHER OF THREE, HAD JUST FINISHED VISITING HER SISTER IN ORANGE BEACH HOURS EARLIER. THE TWISTER WENT ON TO KILL ONE PERSON, INJURED DOZENS OF OTHERS AND CAUSE MASSIVE DAMAGE IN JEFFERSON COUNTY. >> IT MAKES YOU REALLY STOP AND THINK ABOUT YOUR LIFE. SOMEBODY LOST THEIR SON. A LOT OF PEOPLE LOST THEIR HOMES. >> MAYNARD SAID AFTER SITTING THERE FOR NEARLY AN HOUR, THE ROAD WAS CLEARED AND TRAFFIC BEGAN MOVING AGAIN. SHE DIDN’T GET A CHANCE TO SPEAK TO HER PROTECTORS, BUT IF SHE WOULD -- >> I WOULD JUST SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH THAT YOU WERE RIGHT THERE BESIDE ME. YOU DON’T KNOW HOW MUCH COMFORT YOU BROUGHT ME JUS