Interstate Closure Leaves Drivers Stranded

by Jeff Rusack, Reporter
February 10, 2013 6:50 PM


The storm blew into Watertown Saturday night. The snow began sticking to the roadways right away, setting up for hazardous conditions. On Sunday, those conditions only got worse.

With Interstate 29 closed, no traffic was allowed from Watertown to the North Dakota border. Those who braved the elements took a break from the blizzard in Watertown.
 
Hayley Lutterman said, "We saw literally three jack knifed semis in a row and that was kind of nerve wracking, like our little car versus a semi."

Lutterman and her friend Kathy Gruis were traveling south from Fargo.

Lutterman said, "We were actually at a friends, her sister's bachelorette party and we went up last (Saturday) night and we knew this was going to happen but we were like whatever. We wanted to get out of town for a while."

The two were inching along throughout the blizzard when they found out the road they were on was closed.
 
Gruis said, "We had someone call us actually and they were like if you haven't gotten to watertown. It's closed."

Gruis cleaned her car off and hoped for the best, knowing that making it back home by Sunday night, may not be a reality.
 
"I'm from Vermillion but I doubt I'm going to get there today (Sunday)," said Gruis.

There's even a bit of advice from the drivers who chose to drive through the storm.

Lutterman said, "Don't do what we did."

Interstate 29 closed when the wind was blowing about 20 miles per hour. On Sunday night, winds are expected to reach 40 miles per hour, so driving is not recommended.