The family of a man filed a $125 million lawsuit against the Weather Channel, claiming the network ignored its storm chasers’ history of reckless driving that led to the deadly “horrific” Texas car crash in 2017. Karen Di Piazza filed the wrongful death lawsuit Tuesday against the Weather Channel over the death of her son, Corbin Lee Jaeger, who died on March 28, 2017 when Kelley Williamson and Randy Yarnall’s vehicle slammed into his Jeep near Spur, Texas. Williamson and Yarnell — popular storm chasers for the Weather Channel and stars of the show “Storm Wranglers” — were speeding down the highway in their Chevy Suburban at 70 mph when they ran a stop sign and smashed into Jaeger’s vehicle, the lawsuit stated. The duo was looking for any signs of a tornado and live streaming the drive on the Weather Channel’s Facebook page when the video stopped. HAIL PELTS NORTHERN TEXAS ‘LIKE A SNOWSTORM,' DAMAGING HOMES AND VEHICLES “The storm isn’t very far in front of us right now,” Williamson said during the live stream. “Actually, that’s what the dark is you’re seeing right there.” Jaeger, a 25-year-old storm spotter from Arizona employed by the National Weather Service, Williamson, 57, and Yarnell, 55, all died on impact. The lawsuit claimed that Williamson and Yarnall had a “well-documented history of dangerous behavior behind the wheel” that the channel ignored and even encouraged. Di Piazza claimed the in-studio reps not only monitored the storm chasers’ actions, they continued to instruct them during live streams to capture “particularly exciting footage.” "TWC had actual knowledge of the poor driving habits of these individuals, to the extent that it was apparent it was more likely Williamson and Yarnell would run a stop sign than stop at a stop sign. And Yarnell ran a stop sign killing Corbin Lee Jaeger," the lawsuit stated. "The Weather Channel's on-air personalities Kelley Williamson and Randall Yarnall habitually ran stop signs, traffic lights and violated other basic traffic safety laws, in attempts to obtain video footage for their show,” Di Piazza’s attorney said, according to USA Today. WOMAN CRUSHED BY LARGE LOG ON OREGON BEACH THAT WAS STRUCK BY 'SNEAKER WAVE' "The force of the collision caused the equipment-laden Suburban to catapult over a five-foot-tall fence 150 feet from the point of impact,” the attorney added. "Jaeger, a certified storm spotter for the National Weather Service, who had planned to return to college in Arizona to pursue a career as a meteorologist, was driving westward away from that tornado, when he was struck and killed.” The lawsuit stated that the Weather Channel had the opportunity to take Williamson and Yarnell off the road and “hire a competent, law-abiding driver.” “Instead, The Weather Channel made Williamson and Yarnall television stars, breaking laws, driving on private property, driving off-road, in ditches, through hail storms, driving the wrong way on freeway ramps, on the wrong side of the roadway, through red lights and stop signs, all to increase the sense of danger to their television audience and sell advertising and have a hit show,” the suit stated. “The result was the death of a young man, Corbin Lee Jaeger,” it added. CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS APP Jaeger’s family is seeking no less than $125 million in damages. The Weather Channel said in a statement to Fox News on Wednesday that it cannot comment on pending litigation. “We are saddened by the loss of Corbin Jaeger, Kelley Williamson, and Randy Yarnall. They were beloved members of the weather community and our deepest sympathies go out to the families and loved ones of all involved. We cannot comment on pending litigation,” the statement read.<doc-sep>A Texas woman has filed a $125 million wrongful-death lawsuit against The Weather Channel after its vehicle slammed into one driven by her son, a storm spotter for the National Weather Service, killing him. Corbin Lee Jaeger, 25, was killed March 28, 2017, near Spur, Texas, when a vehicle driven by Kelley Williamson and Randall Yarnall smashed into his on County Road 419 southeast of Lubbock. The on-air personalities — who also were killed — blew through a stop sign at 70 mph as they tried to shoot video of a tornado for their show, “Storm Wranglers,” according to the lawsuit, which claims the network was aware of their dangerous driving habits. “Yarnall and Williamson had a history of reckless driving when storm chasing,” according to the lawsuit, which Karen Di Piazza filed Tuesday in federal district court in Lubbock. Jaeger had the right of way when his Jeep Patriot was struck by the Chevrolet Suburban, which was being driven by Yarnall as it livestreamed footage, the lawsuit states. “The force of the collision caused the equipment-laden Suburban to catapult over a five-foot-tall fence 150 feet from the point of impact,” it says. “Jaeger, a certified storm spotter for the National Weather Service who had planned to return to college in Arizona to pursue a career as a meteorologist, was driving westward away from that tornado, when he was struck and killed.” see also Storm chasers killed driving toward possible tornado SPUR, Texas — Three storm chasers were killed when their... Not only did The Weather Channel not stop their reckless driving, the lawsuit said, but benefited from it because it would “increase the sense of danger” for their show. A spokesman for The Weather Channel told EverythingLubbock.com that the outlet was “saddened” by the three deaths. “They were beloved members of the weather community and our deepest sympathies go out to the families and loved ones of all involved. We cannot comment on pending litigation,” the rep said. Storm chasers track and monitor severe weather in attempts to provide early warning so people can evacuate or seek shelter. “They take pride in filming and reporting the story to protect area residents,” attorney Robert Ball of San Diego, who is representing Di Piazza, said in a statement, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. “Unfortunately, Williamson and Yarnall, who were chicken farmers and cattle ranchers by trade, became the story, taking the life of Corbin Jaeger with them.”<doc-sep>
The mother of a man killed in a "horrific" 2017 car accident filed a $125 million wrongful death lawsuit Tuesday against the Weather Channel for its role in the crash. On March 28, 2017, the lawsuit alleges that storm chasers Kelley Williamson and Randall Yarnall – who were contractors for the Weather Channel – drove past a stop sign while storm chasing near Spur, Texas. With a speed estimated at 70 mph, their car smashed into another car driven by Corbin Lee Jaeger, 25, a storm spotter for the National Weather Service. All three men were killed instantly in the wreck, which happened at a remote intersection near the town of Spur, about 55 miles southeast of Lubbock. "The Weather Channel's on-air personalities Kelley Williamson and Randall Yarnall habitually ran stop signs, traffic lights and violated other basic traffic safety laws, in attempts to obtain video footage for their show,” according to a release from the law offices of Robert A. Ball, the San Diego-based attorney representing Jaeger's mother Karen Di Piazza. “The Chevrolet Suburban driven by Yarnall was live streaming for the Weather Channel when it ran into the path of the Jeep Patriot Jaeger was driving," the release said. "The force of the collision caused the equipment-laden Suburban to catapult over a five-foot-tall fence 150 feet from the point of impact. "Jaeger, a certified storm spotter for the National Weather Service, who had planned to return to college in Arizona to pursue a career as a meteorologist, was driving westward away from that tornado, when he was struck and killed.” March 2017:Storm chasers die in car crash as they pursue tornado in Texas The lawsuit was filed Tuesday in Federal District Court in Lubbock, Texas. The complaint against the Weather Channel (TWC) also said that "Yarnall and Williamson had a history of reckless driving when storm chasing and when filming TWC's television programming, which was well known among other storm chasers and TWC." Yarnall and Williamson were storm chasers featured on the network's show Storm Wranglers. According to the Storm Prediction Center, a tornado briefly touched down that afternoon about five miles from where the accident occurred. A Weather Channel statement released Tuesday said that "We are saddened by the loss of Corbin Jaeger, Kelley Williamson, and Randy Yarnall. They were beloved members of the weather community and our deepest sympathies go out to the families and loved ones of all involved. We cannot comment on pending litigation."