As Great Britain is buried under snow these days, hundreds of people had to be rescued from their cars last night as they had been blocked on the roads after powerful snow storms hit the country, The Daily Mail reported. Thus, lots of drivers in Devon were jammed in snowstorm that immediately turned into ice, making the road traffic impossible.
Because some emergency situations like a woman in labour were reported, police tried to reach them using 4x4s. Although they succeeded in rescuing the majority of them, some drivers still had to spend their white night in their vehicles.
As for the pregnant woman in labour (you thought that happens only in the movies, right?), she was rescued by a fire engines fitted with snow chains as the helicopter that was supposed to pick her up couldn't reach her. Fortunately, she arrived safe at the hospital where she gave birth to twin girls.
“People are very cold, and quite wet. Anyone who has been rescued was very, very pleased to see us, and they are being taken to the reception centers,” Alan Mobbs from Devon and Cornwall Police said.
The situation was even more critical. In addition, more than 200 cars were stranded on the A38 and A380 south of Exeter, while dozens of others stuck on the A386 near Tavistock.
This morning, some people were still stuck but officers are working to clear the roads of snow. They are also trying to reunite drivers to their cars but the difficult weather conditions represent an obstruction in their target.
'There are a large number of abandoned cars, we can't say how many at the moment,” said sergeant Olly Taylor commenting on the critical situation. The Highways Agency said its staff had been working the whole night and were also trying to clear the route as soon as possible.
Fortunately, no serious injuries have been reported so far.
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