The self-employed truck driver Niclas Nordström was stranded by snow on Sweden’s E22 motorway for an exhausting 20 hours on Wednesday and Thursday, describing the conditions as the worst he has faced in his 30 years of driving.
Unexpected Blockage
Nordström, who has operated his own road freight business since the 1990s, initially assumed that the traffic would have cleared when he took the E22. However, around 1,000 other drivers, including himself, realized their error when they became stuck near Linderöd at approximately 1:45 PM.
Regrets About Decision-Making
“The cause of the traffic jam had occurred much earlier, so I thought the police would have rerouted vehicles by then,” the 58-year-old informed The Local. “I didn’t put enough thought into it. If better decisions were made, we wouldn’t have faced such long delays.”
Stuck in a Blizzard
As a blizzard hit the area, up to 1,000 vehicles were left trapped on the E22 between Hörby and Kristianstad. The Armed Forces were called in to assist in evacuating stranded motorists and providing food and water.
Challenging Living Conditions
Nordström’s truck, equipped only with a day cab lacking a bed, forced him to sleep upright by the wheel. Despite this, he had a somewhat better situation compared to those in passenger vehicles. However, without food or medicine during his trip to Lund and then heading home to Olofström, he relied on others for assistance.
Unexpected Kindness
“I met various people there and became friends with a Dutch couple who helped me out the next day. I mentioned I was really hungry, and they invited me in for coffee and a sandwich,” he recounted.
Frustration with Delays
Throughout the night, Nordström monitored the Swedish Transport Administration’s website for updates on when the road would reopen. “The reopening time kept getting postponed—first to 8 PM, then midnight, then 2 AM, and eventually 2 PM the following day,” he noted.
Finally Free
Ultimately, around 10 AM, assistance from a local farmer allowed him and the Dutchman to navigate through a snow-cleared passage. They drove against traffic but faced no danger, carefully making their way to an accessible road. “Thanks to our initiative, we managed to escape. Otherwise, we might still be stuck there,” Nordström said, emphasizing the unprecedented nature of this weather in 30 years of driving.
