Chevy sends gift to teen in viral Texas tornado truck video, donates to Red Cross

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Chevrolet is ‘proud’ of the Silverado spun around by a tornado. The company is giving a new truck to the teen driver and money to disaster relief. 

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You know that video out of Elgin, Texas, the one with the Chevy Silverado being spun by a tornado and then somehow driving off? Of course you do. Even the people at Chevrolet’s corporate offices have watched the mega-viral video again and again. A representative for the auto company says they’ve seen the video just like the rest of the country. 

Austin-area media outlets identified the driver of the dogged truck as Riley Leon, a 16-year-old who was leaving a job interview at Whataburger when he accidentally drove into the path of the tornado on Monday, March 21. The teen says he was able to get home with only a few minor cuts. 

Megan Soule, a spokeswoman for the Detroit-based automobile company, says Chevy has been in contact with Leon and his family and is glad to know he’s doing OK. While the truck was able to get Leon away from danger, the teen told Austin’s Fox 7 that the vehicle that was in his family for years is “gone.”

Soule says Chevy partnered with Bruce Lowrie, a Chevy dealership in Fort Worth, to give Leon a new 2022 Silverado 1500 LT All Star Edition. It’s cherry red, like the truck Leon lost in the tornado. Soule says thanks to the quick response from the Texas dealership, the truck will be presented to the Leon family on Saturday, March 26. 

“We’re proud to see the Chevrolet Silverado demonstrate its true durability during the twists and turns of this tornado,” Soule adds. “Our thoughts are with all of those affected by the storm.”


Chevrolet is also donating $50,000 to the American Red Cross in response to the Texas tornadoes, Soule says. 

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