EF-3 Tornado Kills Three Across Indiana and Illinois, Destroying Hundreds of Structures

A powerful EF-3 tornado carved a path of destruction through northern Illinois and northern Indiana on Tuesday, claiming at least three lives and leaving widespread devastation across multiple communities. The storm, packing estimated peak winds of 150 mph, traveled approximately 36.6 miles over the course of about an hour and 20 minutes before dissipating.

In Lake Village, Indiana, a small Newton County town of roughly 1,800 residents, an elderly couple identified as Arlene and Edward Kozlowski, both believed to be in their 80s, died when the tornado demolished their home. Indiana State Police confirmed at least 10 people were injured, with additional victims transporting themselves to nearby hospitals independently. More than 100 structures sustained damage across the region, with 32 completely destroyed, though officials acknowledged the total number of affected properties was likely higher.

The tornado originated in Kankakee County, Illinois, south of Chicago, overwhelming local emergency services and flattening entire blocks in the community of Aroma Park, where roofs were sheared from buildings and structures were ripped apart. A third fatality was later confirmed in Kankakee County during recovery operations. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker expressed condolences to the affected families and communities. The severe weather was part of a broader outbreak that produced at least 17 confirmed tornadoes across Indiana, Illinois, Texas, and Alabama over a 72-hour period, generating more than 300 damaging storm reports stretching from the Southeast to Pennsylvania.