The self-employed truck driver Niclas Nordström experienced a harrowing 20-hour ordeal trapped in snow on Sweden’s E22 motorway, which he described to The Local as the worst weather conditions he has faced in his 30-year career.
Unexpected Blockage
Nordström, who has been operating his own freight business since the 1990s, shared that he mistakenly thought the traffic jam on the E22 would have been resolved when he set out on Wednesday. He and around 1,000 other drivers found themselves stuck near Linderöd around 1:45 PM.
Assumptions and Reflection
“I assumed the police had already stopped and rerouted traffic, but that was a miscalculation,” explained the 58-year-old. “I realized that if there had been quicker thinking, we could have avoided such long delays.”
Vehicles Stranded
Approximately 1,000 vehicles were trapped on the E22 between Hörby and Kristianstad due to a relentless blizzard. The Armed Forces were deployed to assist in evacuating individuals from their vehicles and providing them with food and water.
A Tough Night
Nordström’s truck was equipped only with a day cab, lacking a bed, forcing him to spend the night sitting up at the wheel. He managed to fare better than those in regular passenger cars, but he had no food or medicine with him and had to depend on the kindness of others.
Help from Strangers
While stranded, he connected with a Dutch couple who offered him coffee and a sandwich after he expressed his hunger. During the night, he repeatedly checked the Swedish Transport Administration website for updates on when the road would reopen.
Finding an Escape
After numerous delays in road reopening estimates, a Dutchman he met was aided by a local farmer, who created a three-meter-wide passage through the snow. Together, they drove down the opposite lane in the wrong direction, using their warning lights until they reached a clear road.
Unprecedented Conditions
Having primarily driven in southern counties like Skåne and Blekinge, he noted, “I’ve never encountered anything like this in my 30 years of driving. Such severe weather hasn’t been seen in Skåne since around 1979, when the entire region was buried in snow.”
