Motorists recover cars after abandoning them to massive snow drifts

CTV Barrie: Digging out in Wyevale Snow drifts swallowed cars whole in Wyevale yesterday, and Roger Klein visited an area where abandoned cars made it look like a wasteland.

Southern Georgian Bay was one of the hardest hit regions in our area with closed roads, abandoned cars, whiteouts and lots of stranded people overnight.

As the sun came up this morning it became evident that many people did not make it home last night. On County Road 6 north of Wyevale, snow drifts swallowed cars whole.

Spread out over a kilometre one, there were nine abandon cars and one truck. There were more buried cars on the neighbouring side roads. Mark Stephenson says he wasn't expecting any problems before he got stuck here.

“It was like a different world, it was like somebody opened the door and I had gone outside. It totally changed,” says the Tiny Township resident. “It went from nice and clear, no blowing, the roads were clear and it was a white wall right in front of me.”

Visibility was zero in blizzard conditions across north Simcoe and Grey Counties yesterday. Police closed numerous highways because of the extreme conditions and crashes. Side roads weren't any better and even police vehicles were left frozen in place.

Some people spent more than four hours stuck in their cars trying to stay warm, some managed to walk out, and others were picked up by police and locals on snowmobiles.

Jansz Glowacki is one of 10 people who ended up spending the night at the fire hall in Wyevale. Others made it to nearby homes and farms for shelter.

“I would like to thank everybody the police and the local fire department as well as local residents there was also a farmer who was kind enough to clear the way so we could get back safely to the fire hall here in Wyevale,” says Glowacki.

Mike Thompson got a ride home on an OPP snowmobile last night and returned today to get his car as snow blowers and tow trucks slowly cleared the way.

“I had so many people offer to help me, I had three OPP officers help me get the car out of the ditch this morning, the way everybody comes together was really good to see,” he says.

Vehicles that were abandoned on County Road 6 are being towed to the fire hall in Wyevale. Drivers can pick up their cars there.