Self-employed truck driver Niclas Nordström found himself trapped by heavy snow on Sweden’s E22 motorway for 20 hours on Wednesday and Thursday, which he described to The Local as the worst weather experience in his 30-year career.
Since the 1990s, Nordström has operated his own road freight business. Misjudging the situation, he expected the traffic blockage to be resolved when he took the E22 on Wednesday. He realized his error, alongside about 1,000 other drivers, when he became stuck near Linderöd around 1:45 PM.
“I assumed the police had already diverted traffic because the cause of the jam had occurred much earlier,” the 58-year-old shared with The Local. “However, I didn’t give it much thought. A bit more quick-thinking could have prevented this and the long queues.”
As a winter storm struck the region, up to 1,000 vehicles were left stranded between Hörby and Kristianstad on the E22. The Armed Forces were dispatched to assist in evacuating people from their vehicles and providing food and water to those still waiting.
Unlike many stranded passengers, Nordström’s truck only featured a day cab without a sleeping area, meaning he had to sleep in an upright position at the wheel. Still, he found himself in a more favorable position compared to those stuck in cars. However, on his way to Lund in Skåne and then home to Olofström, he lacked food and medicine, relying on others for support.
“I met various people there, including a Dutch couple who helped me the next day. Since I was extremely hungry, they invited me in for coffee and a sandwich,” he recounted. Throughout the night, he monitored the Swedish Transport Administration’s website for updates about the road reopening.
“The opening times kept getting pushed back. First, it was set for 8 PM, then it changed to midnight, then 2 AM, and finally 2 PM the next day,” he noted. Ultimately, at around 10 AM, the Dutchman managed to get help from a local farmer who cleared a three-meter-wide path through the snow, allowing both of them to exit the motorway.
“We drove out through the clearing against traffic, but there was no danger since there were no other vehicles. If we hadn’t taken the initiative, we might still be stuck there,” Nordström explained. Driving primarily in Skåne and Blekinge, he had never experienced such severe snow conditions and remarked, “I’ve never encountered anything like this in my 30 years. This level of bad weather hasn’t hit Skåne since around 1979.”
