Drivers were stuck on an interstate near Washington, D.C., after a major snowstorm struck the East Coast.
Hundreds of drivers were stuck on Interstate 95 in Virginia for hours, with some claiming to have been there for over 19 hours after one of the state’s largest snowfalls in years.
The jam was so bad that “some people were seen abandoning their vehicles in snow-covered travel lanes, walking down I-95 to parts unknown,” according to WTOP traffic reporter Dave Dildine, describing the incident as a “worst-case scenario.”
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“Some callers were sobbing and scared. Psychologically it is extremely distressing to be motionless on a highway for hours on end without knowing how much longer it will last,” Dildine said.
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam tweeted on Tuesday that while he expects the morning sunlight to help the Virginia Department of Transportation clear the road, he encourages all state residents to avoid the interstate.
An emergency message is going to all stranded drivers connecting them to support, and the state is working with localities to open warming shelters as needed.
While sunlight is expected to help @VaDOT clear the road, all Virginians should continue to avoid 1-95.
— Governor Ralph Northam (@GovernorVA) January 4, 2022
State officials have closed I-95 both ways from Dumfries at Exit 152 to Carmel Church at Exit 104, but they are working to guide vehicles to nearby interchanges and alternate routes.
At least one Washington politician is stuck in this traffic jam. Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine tweeted on Tuesday that he has been on the road for 19 hours.
I started my normal 2 hour drive to DC at 1pm yesterday. 19 hours later, I’m still not near the Capitol. My office is in touch with @VaDOT to see how we can help other Virginians in this situation. Please stay safe everyone. pic.twitter.com/Sz1b1hZJZ5
— Tim Kaine (@timkaine) January 4, 2022
Several vehicles in the jam ran out of gas, NBC News’s Josh Lederman, who was in the backup, reported.
“People (myself included) are taking exercise breaks outside their cars, walking their dogs on the interstate,” Lederman tweeted early Tuesday morning.
People (myself included) are taking exercise breaks outside their cars, walking their dogs on the interstate.
I’ve been putting snow in his bowl and letting it melt into water. (3)
— Josh Lederman (@JoshNBCNews) January 4, 2022
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The snowstorm on Monday wreaked havoc across the nation’s capital and the southeastern coast. Nearly 7 inches of snow were recorded on the ground at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, the most since January 2019, according to the National Weather Service, and more than 236,000 homes lost access to power, Fox5 DC reported.
