150 vehicles abandoned in weekend blizzard that saw snowmobilers and farmers helping

As parts of Lambton and Middlesex counties dig themselves out of another winter storm, stories of people going above and beyond to help each other are emerging.

Those stories, however, also come with serious reminders — ones a local tow truck operator who spent hours out in the snow said can mean the difference between life and death.

"You absolutely have to be prepared," said Gary Vandenheuvel, co-owner of Preferred Towing in Sarnia, Ont.

The storm completely paralyzed movement on the region's roads Friday night and into Saturday prompting OPP to call it a "significant event". Many roads were closed in Sunday, including Hwy. 402 between London and Sarnia.

Heavy winds blew snow into massive drifts, in some cases almost completely covering stranded vehicles while their motorists were still inside.

It was a weekend that required all hands on deck for Vandenheuvel's 12-person crew, and dozens of other tow companies from across the region.

He said the Hwy. 402 closure resulted in traffic being diverted to smaller, less regularly maintained rural roads in the area instead.

"Once that wind kicks in, and everything starts happening out there, the snow drifts start to build, and it just makes it impossible to move, especially on those routes," Vandenheuvel said.

"Unfortunately, people leave not thinking that the road conditions are going to be that bad. There were blizzard warnings out, but [they didn't] heed those warnings."

As the chaos unfolded Vandenheuvel said he received hundreds of calls, and tow truck operators working up to 30 hours to try to help people who were stranded.

Despite those efforts, he said most of the calls were from people who were simply unreachable.

"Tow trucks are vehicles, just like everybody else's. We're not able to magically get through snow that everybody else can't get through," Vandenheuvel said.

The impassable snow drifts and low visibility saw first responders, and Good Samaritans make use of snowmobiles and farm equipment to reach people.

Average citizens who wanted to help took it upon themselves to do what they could, according to Graham Snyder, spokesperson for the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs District 5.