The self-employed truck driver Niclas Nordström found himself trapped by snow on Sweden’s E22 motorway for a staggering 20 hours on Wednesday and Thursday, experiencing what he described to The Local as the worst weather conditions of his 30-year career.
Unexpected Traffic Jam
Nordström, who has been running his own road freight business since the 1990s, assumed that the traffic would have been cleared when he took the E22 on Wednesday. He soon realized his error, alongside approximately 1,000 other drivers, when he became stranded near Linderöd around 1:45 PM.
Reflections on Poor Decision-Making
“The traffic jam had formed long before, and I just thought the police would have rerouted vehicles,” the 58-year-old admitted. “I didn’t think it through. If there had been more quick thinking, this situation could have been avoided, and the queues wouldn’t have been so long.”
Stranded Vehicles and Emergency Response
Around 1,000 vehicles were left immobilized on the E22 road between Hörby and Kristianstad due to a severe blizzard, prompting the Armed Forces to assist in evacuating people and providing food and water to those still trapped.
Challenging Conditions for Nordström
Although Nordström’s truck is equipped only with a day cab—lacking a bed—he managed to sleep sitting up at the wheel, which was still preferable to those in passenger cars. However, he lacked food and medicine on his journey to Lund in Skåne, relying on the kindness of others for assistance.
A Helping Hand
During his ordeal, he connected with a couple from Holland, who offered him coffee and a sandwich after he expressed his hunger. Nordström spent the night checking the Swedish Transport Administration’s website for updates on when the road would reopen, only to face continual delays.
Creative Escape
Eventually, around 10 AM, the Dutchman received help from a local farmer who cleared a three-meter-wide path through the snow. Both men then navigated against traffic, using their warning lights, until they found a passable road.
Reflections on Unprecedented Conditions
Having primarily driven in the southern counties of Skåne and Blekinge, Nordström noted that he had never experienced snow conditions like those he encountered. “I’ve never seen anything like this in my 30 years of driving. Such severe weather hasn’t occurred in Skåne since 1979,” he remarked.
