The self-employed truck driver Niclas Nordström found himself stranded by snow on Sweden’s E22 motorway for 20 hours on Wednesday and Thursday, describing the experience as the worst weather conditions he has faced in his 30-year career.
Having operated his own road freight business since the 1990s, Nordström had incorrectly assumed that the traffic blockage would have been resolved when he took the E22 on Wednesday. He realized his mistake, along with about 1,000 other drivers, when he became stuck near Linderöd around 1:45 PM.
“The cause of the jam had occurred long before, so I presumed the police would have redirected the traffic to alternate routes,” the 58-year-old said. “But I didn’t think things through. If there had been a bit more quick thinking, this long queue could have been avoided.”
Approximately 1,000 vehicles were left trapped on the E22 between Hörby and Kristianstad as a fierce blizzard struck the area, prompting the Armed Forces to assist in evacuating people from their cars and delivering food and water to those still stranded.
Nordström’s truck is equipped with just a day cab, leaving him to sleep upright at the wheel, though he had a slightly better situation compared to those stuck in passenger vehicles. As he was traveling to Lund in Skåne before heading home to Olofström in Blekinge county, he found himself without food or medicine in the truck and had to depend on the kindness of others.
“I met various people during the ordeal. I became friends with a couple from Holland who helped me the next day. I mentioned I was extremely hungry, and they kindly invited me in for coffee and a sandwich,” he shared.
Throughout the night, he monitored the Swedish Transport Administration’s website for updates on when the road would reopen, only to see the expected time constantly pushed back—from 8 PM to midnight, then to 2 AM, and finally to 2 PM the next day.
Ultimately, around 10 AM, the Dutchman he befriended received assistance from a local farmer who cleared a three-meter-wide path in the snow, enabling them to exit the motorway. They then drove down the opposite lane, using their warning lights, until they reached a clear road.
“We managed to drive out together, going against traffic, but there was no traffic at that point, so it wasn’t dangerous. Our initiative is what allowed us to escape; otherwise, we might still be stuck there,” he explained.
Having primarily driven in southern Skåne and Blekinge, Nordström stated that he has never experienced weather conditions as severe as those he faced on Wednesday. “I’ve never encountered anything like this in 30 years; it’s been decades since Skåne faced such extreme weather, with the last major snowfall being in 1979,” he remarked.
