Self-Employed Driver Stuck for 20 Hours in Heavy Snow
Niclas Nordström, a self-employed truck driver, was snowbound on Sweden’s E22 motorway for 20 hours on Wednesday and Thursday, describing it as the worst weather he has faced in his 30-year career.
Having operated his own freight business since the 1990s, Nordström mistakenly believed the traffic congestion would have been resolved by the time he took the E22 on Wednesday. Around 1,000 other drivers shared his fate when they found themselves stuck near Linderöd around 1:45 PM.
“I thought the police would have redirected traffic by then,” the 58-year-old shared with The Local. “In hindsight, I should have considered the situation more carefully. Had there been a bit more quick thinking, we wouldn’t have had such long delays.”
The blizzard left up to 1,000 vehicles immobilized on the E22 between Hörby and Kristianstad, prompting the Armed Forces to assist with evacuation and supply food and water to stranded individuals.
Nordström’s truck is equipped with only a day cab, meaning he had to sleep sitting upright while many passengers faced tougher conditions. Despite his situation, he lacked food and medicine and relied on others for assistance as he traveled to Lund in Skåne and then home to Olofström in Blekinge County.
Fortunately, he befriended a Dutch couple who came to his aid. “I mentioned how hungry I was, and they kindly invited me for coffee and a sandwich,” he recounted.
Throughout the night, Nordström continuously checked the Swedish Transport Administration’s website for updates on road reopening, but the estimated times kept being pushed back. Finally, a local farmer came to the rescue, creating a three-meter-wide pathway through the snow, allowing Nordström and his new friend to exit the highway. They drove against traffic until they reached a clear road.
Reflecting on his experiences, Nordström said he had never encountered such severe snow conditions in his career. “This has been the worst weather I’ve seen in 30 years. The last time Skåne experienced such heavy snowfall was in 1979,” he concluded.
