On 9 April 2015 a powerful EF-4 tornado barrelled through northern Illinois. Sam Smith, a businessman from North Carolina, was travelling from Minnesota to Indianapolis when he got caught in the tornado’s path.

Smith says he had never experienced this type of weather so wasn’t sure what the safest course of action was. He decided to remain parked under a bridge until the tornado pass and thankfully he was okay. Smith documented the harrowing experience on his phone.