Joel Taylor, the star of Discovery Channel’s “Storm Chasers,” has died at age 38. His co-star Reed Timmer took to Twitter to confirm the news, writing: ““I am shocked and absolutely devastated by the loss of my incredible, caring friend. We chased so many intense storms, and I wish we could have just one more storm chase. I’ll miss you forever, Joel. We lost a legend”
Joel was always fascinated by storms and studied Meteorology at the University of Oklahoma where he first met his future co-star Reed Timmer. He joined Storm Chasers in 2008.
https://twitter.com/ReedTimmerAccu/status/956022219670478851
https://twitter.com/ReedTimmerAccu/status/956168389369696257
Joel’s final Facebook post was a happy family announcement welcoming his new niece on January 15, sharing news of his niece’s birth, he wrote: “My first niece arrived this morning!”
According to TMZ, the cause of death was a suspected overdose on a cruise ship. Passengers on the Royal Caribbean Cruise Line Harmony Of The Seas that the 38-year-old star was using drugs with many of the cruise members, specifically ecstasy and cocaine. He was found unresponsive in his cabin on Tuesday.
On Facebook, Western Oklahoma storm chasing group Team Western OK Chaser posted a tribute to the late star saying: “Our community of Elk City and the storm chasing community lost a great guy today. Joel Taylor was truly an inspiration to myself and many who knew him. He was one of the most level-headed chasers on the roads and truly a classy guy outside of chasing. He didn’t chase for the glory he chased because he had a true passion for storms. In the last few years, he’d load up with his dad and go chase and not even take a camera.”
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1238079746288585&set=ecnf.100002597134287&type=3&theater
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1054355277994367&set=pb.100002597134287.-2207520000.1516810428.&type=3&theater
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=891622314267665&set=pb.100002597134287.-2207520000.1516810430.&type=3&theater
The Discovery Channel bio for Joel speaks to his passion and reads: “Growing up near the heart of tornado alley, Joel had a front-row seat to plenty of severe storms and tornadoes. Always fascinated by these phenomena, he attended the University of Oklahoma to study meteorology. The two have intercepted countless tornadoes, and with Joel’s keen knowledge of the back roads of the Great Plains, he has long been the trusted driver of Reed’s TVN team.”
Co-workers, celebrities, and fans alike are taking to Twitter to eulogize the young star, and thank him for the work he’s done for the meteorology community.
https://twitter.com/JimCantore/status/956160113877889024
https://twitter.com/weatherdan/status/956031300942684161
https://twitter.com/McBeeWX/status/956021355983593472
https://twitter.com/Sean_Ernst_Wx/status/956036356471443456
https://twitter.com/MikeOlbinski/status/956029130985955329
