The self-employed truck driver Niclas Nordström found himself stranded by snow on Sweden’s E22 motorway for 20 hours this past Wednesday and Thursday. He described the conditions as the worst he has faced in his 30 years of driving.
Unexpected Blockade
Having operated his own road freight business since the 1990s, Nordström expected that the traffic congestion on the E22 would be cleared when he began his journey. However, he, along with around 1,000 other drivers, quickly realized the extent of the blockage near Linderöd around 1:45 PM on Wednesday.
Assumptions and Regrets
“The reason for the jam had happened a long time earlier, so I just assumed the police would have already stopped the traffic and diverted them onto other roads,” the 58-year-old recounted. “But I didn’t really do much thinking. If there had been a bit more quick-thinking, this wouldn’t have happened; we wouldn’t have had such long queues.”
Emergency Response
As harsh blizzard conditions hit the region, nearly 1,000 vehicles became stuck on the E22 between Hörby and Kristianstad. The Armed Forces were called in to assist in evacuating stranded motorists and delivering food and water to those unable to exit their vehicles.
Challenging Circumstances
Although Nordström’s truck is equipped with only a day cab—lacking a bed—he had to sleep upright at the wheel. He was still better off compared to those in passenger cars, though he found himself without food or medicine while en route to Lund in Skåne, then back home to Olofström in Blekinge.
Kindness of Strangers
While stuck, he formed a bond with a couple from Holland who offered him coffee and a sandwich when he expressed his hunger. Throughout the night, he kept checking the Swedish Transport Administration’s website for updates on road conditions.
Finding a Way Out
As the estimated reopening time kept getting pushed later—from 8 PM to midnight, then to 2 AM and finally 2 PM the next day—Nordström and the Dutchman were eventually assisted by a local farmer who cleared a three-meter-wide passage through the snow, allowing them to exit the motorway.
Unprecedented Conditions
Nordström, who primarily drives in Skåne and Blekinge, noted that he has never experienced such harsh snow conditions in his long driving career. “I’ve never encountered anything like this; it has been decades since Skåne faced weather this severe,” he remarked, recalling a similar snowstorm from 1979.
