Tornadoes Hit Kansas and Oklahoma

Authorities checking on a car stranded in a field Saturday morning found two people killed by a powerful storm that raked the state a day earlier with at least 17 tornadoes.

The Friday storm destroyed several buildings and injured at least six people, including one hospitalized in serious condition in Wichita, authorities said.

Several tornadoes touched down Saturday in northwestern Oklahoma. A twister destroyed three barns at a hog farm near Lacey in Kingfisher County, about 75 miles northwest of Oklahoma City, said Michelann Ooten, a spokeswoman for the Oklahoma Emergency Management Department.

The National Weather Service in Dodge City said there were at least 10 twisters that touched down in central Kansas, while the Goodland office reported seven or eight in the western part of the state.

At least four people were hurt in Stafford County, including one person who was taken to a Wichita hospital with serious injuries, said Sharon Watson, spokeswoman for the Kansas Adjutant General's Department.

Many residents were treated for cuts and bruises, but so far only one death has been reported from Friday's twisters.

Thosewho fled their homes wait as fire fighters inspect for gas leaks thatcould cause explosions, as damage to gas lines may have caused leakage.

Expertssay the tornadoes were likely a category EF-3, sustaining winds from135-165 mph in Greeley County and 111-135 mph in Windsor County.

Oklahomasaw far less damage after residents reported seeing a twister Friday,but in Thursday's storms a 14-year-old boy was killed after his fatherdrove onto a washed out road.