The self-employed truck driver Niclas Nordström found himself 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-year career.
Unexpected Traffic Jam
Having operated his own freight business since the 1990s, Nordström had expected that the traffic would be cleared when he took the E22 on Wednesday. However, he soon realized his mistake, joining around 1,000 other drivers who were caught in a standstill near Linderöd around 1:45 PM.
Regrets and Reflections
“I assumed the police had stopped the traffic earlier to redirect it to other routes,” the 58-year-old told The Local. “In hindsight, I should have thought it through better; quicker decision-making could have prevented such lengthy backups.”
Stranded Vehicles
The blizzard left as many as 1,000 vehicles immobilized on the E22 between Hörby and Kristianstad, prompting the Armed Forces to intervene and assist stranded motorists by providing food and water.
A Challenging Night
With a truck designed only for daytime use, Nordström faced a tough night sleeping upright at the wheel, yet he felt luckier than those in regular cars. However, his situation was complicated by a lack of food and medicine as he had been on his way to Lund in Skåne and then home to Olofström in Blekinge when he got stuck.
Community Assistance
While waiting, he formed a bond with a Dutch couple who offered him food and drink the next day after he mentioned his hunger. During the night, he monitored the Swedish Transport Administration’s website to check for updates on road conditions.
The Road to Freedom
The expected reopening time for the road kept getting pushed back, from initially 8 PM to eventually 2 PM the next day. Eventually, around 10 AM, the Dutchman received help from a local farmer who created a three-meter-wide path through the snow, allowing them to exit the motorway by driving against the flow of traffic until they reached safer roads.
A Unique Experience
Having primarily driven in the southern counties of Skåne and Blekinge, Nordström remarked that he had never experienced snow conditions like those on Wednesday. “This is unprecedented for me in 30 years of driving. Such severe weather hasn’t been seen in Skåne since around 1979 when the region was entirely snowed under.”
