‘Violent’ mile-wide tornado launches occupied cop car into backyard, Arkansas cops say

An Arkansas police officer is “seriously injured” but alive after a powerful tornado picked up his cruiser and launched it into the backyard of a nearby home, authorities say.

Multiple tornadoes touched down in Arkansas as severe storms swept much of the U.S. on Friday, March 14, but the twister that nearly took the life of the Diaz Police Department’s Sgt. Richard Morris was particularly dangerous.

The “violent” tornado formed at 11:13 p.m. and quickly grew to be a mile wide with winds of 190-mph, according to a National Weather Service report. In 23 minutes it carved an 18.6-mile path across Independence and Jackson counties, in northeastern Arkansas, and experts have determined it was an EF4.

The town of Diaz was in the twister’s path, and so was Morris, Police Chief James Thompson said in a March 17 news release.

“His patrol unit was swept up in the tornado and tossed several feet landing on another car in the backyard of a nearby residence,” Thompson said.

“During this his radio was ripped out of his car leaving him unable to communicate by radio,” he added. “Fortunately he had his phone and was able to call 911 for help.”

Photos show Morris’ vehicle destroyed, its roof caved in, the hood crushed, its wheels twisted outward and ruined interior seemingly filled with debris.

“The condition of this car proves the good Lord was watching over him,” Thompson said.

Morris was taken to a hospital with “substantial” injuries, but he is expected to fully recover.

“Please continue to pray for Sergeant Morris and his recovery as well as the others injured in this horrific event,” Thompson said.

Diaz is a roughly 90-mile drive northeast from Little Rock.

This story was originally published March 19, 2025 at 10:38 AM with the headline "‘Violent’ mile-wide tornado launches occupied cop car into backyard, Arkansas cops say."