As tornadoes spun across central Oklahoma on Friday, thousands of panicked residents tried to outrun the storm in their cars on flooded streets and highways.

They drove into chaos.

Interstates already packed with rush-hour traffic became parking lots. And, as the first and most powerful of the five tornadoes hit near El Reno, inside a car became a dangerous place to be.

Seven of those killed by tornadoes Friday were in vehicles in Canadian County, the sheriff there said.