The self-employed truck driver Niclas Nordström was stranded by snow on Sweden’s E22 motorway for an impressive 20 hours on Wednesday and Thursday, describing the conditions as the worst he has faced in his 30-year career, according to The Local.
Unexpected Traffic Jam
Nordström has operated his own road freight business since the 1990s. He regrettably assumed that the blocked traffic would be cleared by the time he entered the E22 on Wednesday. Along with approximately 1,000 other drivers, he realized his error when he came to a halt around Linderöd at about 1:45 PM.
Misjudgment and Regrets
“The incident causing the jam had occurred earlier, so I thought the police would have diverted traffic to other routes,” the 58-year-old shared with The Local. “In hindsight, I didn’t think things through. A quicker response could have prevented such long queues.”
Massive Stranding
As a blizzard hit the region, nearly 1,000 vehicles were stuck on the E22 between Hörby and Kristianstad. The Armed Forces were called in to assist stranded drivers, providing food and water to those trapped in their vehicles.
Challenging Circumstances
With his truck featuring only a day cab—lacking a bed — Nordström had to sleep upright at the wheel. Nonetheless, he felt better off than those in passenger cars. On his journey to Lund and then home to Olofström, he had no food or medicine and depended on others for support.
Unexpected Kindness
During his ordeal, Nordström befriended a couple from Holland who came to his aid the next day. He expressed his hunger to them, and they welcomed him for coffee and a sandwich.
Frustrating Wait for Rescue
Throughout the night, Nordström monitored the Swedish Transport Administration’s website for updates on road reopening times, noting that the anticipated reopening kept getting pushed further and further back—from 8 PM to midnight, then 2 AM, and finally to 2 PM the following day.
Creative Exit
Eventually, at around 10 AM, the Dutchman received assistance from a local farmer who cleared a three-meter-wide path in the snow, allowing them to exit the motorway. They navigated down the opposite lane with flashing lights until they reached a usable road.
Unprecedented Weather Conditions
Having primarily driven in the southern counties of Skåne and Blekinge, Nordström remarked that he had never experienced such extreme snow conditions. “I’ve never encountered anything like this in 30 years. The last severe weather like this in Skåne was reportedly in 1979 when the entire region was buried in snow,” he recalled.
