Hundreds trapped on highway in Canada, rescue efforts underway

 

 

SARNIA, ONTARIO (WXYZ) - A driver who is among hundreds trapped on Highway 402 near the Blue Water Bridge in Sarnia tells Action News he's been stuck for more than 24 hours.

 

Illya Kornobis says he's never seen anything like it. He has been trapped on the highway along with hundreds of people who were forced to spend a frigid night trapped on a stretch of highway near the Blue Water Bridge.

 

Rescue efforts are now underway after being hampered by blizzard conditions. Heavy snow and zero visibility has made travel impossible in that area.

 

Kornobis says he's been stuck on the highway since 10:00 a.m. Monday.

 

"It’s been a crazy over 24 hours… It’s been pretty crazy but I’m now bunking with a truck driver behind me so I’m nice and warm so that’s great," Kornobis told Action News. "I’ve driven on this road a number of times, and I’ve never seen this happen. The snow just kept coming and the roads were icy and everything just came to a standstill."

 

Kornobis says helicopters have been brought in to remove people, families and the elderly.

 

"They did bring us food last night around 9:00 p.m. We got a sandwich and a pop. So at least we got some food," says Kornobis.

 

The Canadian government has declared eastbound 402 in Sarnia a National Disaster area.

 

That stretch of highway is located five miles east of the bridge.

 

The only traffic allowed to cross the Blue Water Bridge at this time are vehicles headed to the immediate Sarnia area.

 

http://www.wxyz.com/dpp/news/hundreds-trapped-on-sarnia-freeway%2C-rescue-efforts-underway

And I thought my commute the past 2 days was bad :freak:

Looks like something from The Day After Tomorrow. :stunned:

"It’s been pretty crazy but I’m now bunking with a truck driver behind me so I’m nice and warm so that’s great"

 

Terrible situation but LOL!!!1

I saw on the news last night that they were rescuing people from the highway by helicopter and snowmobiles, but that their cars are going to be stuck there for a while.

^ Yes. And the bridge/road to Canada from Port Huron (Michigan) is closed to traffic (with the exception of local residents). So all of those commercial semi-trucks have to detour south and go through Detroit to take the bridge to Canada there (to Sarnia). I'm sure all those truck drivers are less than pleased with that little detour!