Three storm chasers killed in Oklahoma

(CNN) -- A group of men who devoted their lives to hunting powerful storms died in the middle of the chase.

Tim Samaras, his son Paul Samaras, and Carl Young were killed while following a tornado in El Reno, Oklahoma, relatives told CNN on Sunday. They were among nine people killed in storms that struck Oklahoma on Friday night.

Their work tracking tornadoes was featured on the former Discovery Channel show "Storm Chasers."

"They all unfortunately passed away but doing what they loved," Jim Samaras wrote in a statement posted on his brother's Facebook page.

At the intersection where authorities said the three men were killed, crews hauled away a mangled white truck Sunday that had been crushed like a tin can. The metal frame was twisted almost beyond recognition. The windows had been smashed to bits.

Canadian County Undersheriff Chris West confirmed that three storm chasers had been killed, but declined to provide additional details about the circumstances of their deaths.