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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW 9 p.m. UPDATE: Evacuation orders lifted as crews stop forward progress of Cave Junction wildfire ... 7:30 P.M. UPDATE: One sent to hospital with burns in Elm Street fire ... Demobilization ceremony honors Oregon National Guard soldiers' sacrifice ... 9 p.m. UPDATE: Evacuation orders lifted as crews stop forward progress of Cave Junction wildfire ... 7:30 P.M. UPDATE: One sent to hospital with burns in Elm Street fire ... Demobilization ceremony honors Oregon National Guard soldiers' sacrifice ... EUGENE Two in Jeep briefly lifted into air by small tornado in Eugene Comment By The Associated Press MailTribune.com By The Associated Press Posted Apr. 15, 2015 at 2:00 AM By The Associated Press Posted Apr. 15, 2015 at 2:00 AM » Social News EUGENE — A small tornado that touched down Tuesday afternoon in the parking lot of a community college campus briefly lifted two people in a Jeep Cherokee into the air, then slammed the vehicle back down on its tires, witnesses said. Student Josh Hollowell was between classes at Lane Community College's main campus when he saw the twister touch down, hitting four vehicles in the parking lot. The man in the Jeep told Hollowell he and his female companion were unhurt. A short time later they drove off. No one was hurt, college spokeswoman Joan Aschim said. "No injuries at all. We were very lucky," she said. Both Hollowell and a campus safety officer, Sgt. Lisa Rupp, estimated the Jeep was lifted about 8 feet off the ground. Hollowell, 39, of Cottage Grove, said he asked the man if he was OK. "He said he and his girl were sitting in the car when it started hailing," the witness recalled. "They got out to look at the hail, got back in, shut the door and that's when the car lifted off the ground." Before the tornado struck the four vehicles, Hollowell said he heard the wind pick up and saw "big branches going in circles in the air." He said he was about 100 yards away when the twister hit. Aschim said she did not know the names of the couple in the Jeep. National Weather Service meteorologist Jeremiah Pyle in Portland said witness accounts and numerous photographs convinced meteorologists that a tornado did occur shortly after 4 p.m. Typically, winds must reach at least 70 mph to lift vehicles off the ground. Based on preliminary information, this tornado may have involved winds in the range of 70 to 110 mph, Weather Service meteorologist David Elson told the Register-Guard. The tornado is only the seventh recorded in Lane County since 1950, the newspaper reported, citing National Weather Service data. By The Associated Press MailTribune.com By The Associated Press Posted Apr. 15, 2015 at 2:00 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501