A Rocky Ford couple was killed Friday night by a tornado that touched down 12 miles east of Pratt, Kan.
According to a report released today by the Pratt County Sheriff’s Office, Gary Whitlow, 33, and Kimberly Whitlow, 29, were in a 2006 Saturn Ion that was found “completely destroyed” about 9:10 a.m.
The car was barely visible from the road and was lying in a wheat field 150 yards north of U.S. 54.
The car was found close to an area where a tornado had blown a semi truck off the highway and snapped utility poles in half Friday night.
The Whitlows were pronounced dead at the scene and identified by two Pratt County coroners.
The tornado also destroyed five or six rural residences and an irrigation system, which was found blown across the highway near where the Whitlows were found.
The Associated Press reported 17 tornadoes moved through western and central Kansas Friday injuring at least six people and damaging or destroying dozens of homes.
Annette Espinoza: 303-954-1655 or aespinoza@denverpost.com
