The self-employed truck driver Niclas Nordström was stuck in snow on Sweden’s E22 motorway for an exhausting 20 hours on Wednesday and Thursday, describing it to The Local as the harshest weather he has faced in his 30-year career.
Unexpected Traffic Jam
Nordström, who has operated his own freight business since the 1990s, had mistakenly assumed that the traffic jam on the E22 would have been cleared when he traveled there on Wednesday. He was brought to a standstill along with approximately 1,000 other drivers around Linderöd around 1.45pm.
Hindsight and Regrets
“The reason for the congestion had occurred long before, so I thought the police would have already redirected traffic,” the 58-year-old shared with The Local. “But I wasn’t really thinking. With more quick-thinking, this situation could have been avoided, and the queues would have been shorter.”
Stranded Drivers
As a blizzard swept through the region, up to 1,000 vehicles were trapped on the E22 between Hörby and Kristianstad. The Armed Forces were called in to assist stranded motorists, providing evacuations along with food and water supplies.
A Tough Night
Nordström was in a day cab truck, which lacks a bed, forcing him to sleep in an upright position at the wheel. Fortunately, he had it better than those in passenger cars. However, on his way to Lund in Skåne and then home to Olofström, he had no food or medicine and relied on the kindness of strangers for help.
Kindness from Strangers
“I met a couple from Holland who were very generous. When I told them I was starving, they offered me coffee and a sandwich,” he recounted. Throughout the night, he monitored the Swedish Transport Administration’s website for updates on when the road would reopen.
Frustrating Delays
His hopes kept being dashed as the expected reopening time was pushed back repeatedly: first to 8 PM, then midnight, and later to 2 AM, and finally to 2 PM the next day.
Escape at Last
Ultimately, around 10 AM, with assistance from a local farmer, the Dutch man and Nordström were able to clear a three-meter-wide path through the snow. They then drove against traffic in the opposite lane, flashing their warning lights until they reached a clear road.
A Unique Experience
Nordström, who primarily drives in southern Skåne and Blekinge, commented that he had never encountered such severe snow conditions in his career. “I’ve never experienced anything like this in 30 years, and it’s been the worst weather in Skåne since 1979 when the entire region was covered in snow,” he said.
