For those who chase severe storms the thrill of the chase is tempered by danger.

The effects of a tornado — damaging hail, winds that can exceed 100 miles per hour and debris that can be made into deadly projectiles — are hazardous, but the other perils are man-made: the cars driven by other storm chasers.

That was the case on Tuesday afternoon when three storm chasers were killed in a crash outside of Spur, Tex., about 70 miles east of Lubbock, as they pursued a tornado, the Texas Department of Public Safety said.

Kelley G. Williamson, 57, of Cassville, Mo., was driving a Suburban when he went through a stop sign and struck a Jeep driven by Corbin L. Jaeger, 25, of Peoria, Ariz., the department said in a statement. Mr. Jaeger was pronounced dead at the scene, as was Mr. Williamson and a passenger in his vehicle, Randall D. Yarnall, 55, also of Cassville, Mo.

The cause of the crash remained under investigation. It was raining at the time of the collision, and there did not appear to be any tire skid marks, Sgt. John Gonzalez, a department spokesman, said.