University Student Survives Being Thrown from Car During EF-3 Tornado

Mya Grimes, a 20-year-old Jackson State University student, narrowly survived an EF-3 tornado that struck St. Louis on May 16, 2025. While driving home on Pershing Avenue, Mya was speaking to her mother when her car was caught in the storm’s path.

“The car started spinning in circles. I held on for dear life, praying and screaming ‘Jesus,’” she recalled. The windshield shattered, and she was flung 40 yards down the road near Union and Washington.

Before the storm hit, her father had warned her to get home quickly. As the weather worsened, she called her mother, who described the horrifying call: “She said, ‘It’s taking me,’ and then the phone disconnected.”

Despite her injuries, Mya crawled to a light pole and flagged down an ambulance. She was released from the hospital with minor burns and cuts.