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 160km/h 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.

Texas Department of Public Safety troopers investigate a two-vehicle crash that left several storm chasers dead. Credit:AP

That was the case on Tuesday afternoon when three storm chasers were killed in a crash outside of Spur, Texas, about 140 kilometres east of Lubbock, as they pursued a tornado, the Texas Department of Public Safety said.

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