In an unprecedented turn of events, a woman named Bethany Howe found herself stranded on Interstate 5 (I-5) in Oregon for an astonishing 13 hours due to an unexpected ice storm. The incident occurred on Sunday evening when a series of vehicle spin-outs and crashes led to a massive traffic jam in the northbound lanes of I-5.
Bethany Howe had initially set out from Lincoln City to Eugene around 1 p.m., believing her journey would be routine. However, as she approached Florence, road closures forced her to detour south on Hwy 101 to Reedsport before heading east to I-5. Despite her awareness that conditions were deteriorating, law enforcement insisted it was the only viable route to Eugene.
By 7 p.m., Howe found herself in a non-stop traffic jam on I-5, enduring the standstill for three hours before finally settling in for a long night. With no cell phone signal, she passed the time playing music, singing along to tunes like “I Drove All Night” and “Let It Go.” Blanket in hand, she remained patient as officers eventually informed drivers around 3:30 a.m. that traffic was starting to move again.
The ordeal continued, with Howe stuck near Creswell for an additional couple of hours. Her GPS suggested an alternate route, but after previous bad information led to road closures, she opted to stay on I-5. The journey, initially a two-hour drive, transformed into an 18-and-a-half-hour saga, with Howe reaching home safely around 8 a.m.
The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) spokesperson, David House, described the ice storm as unusual, with 1.7 million pounds of salt spread in preparation. However, the ice buildup proved challenging, rendering the salt less effective. House emphasized a lack of chains as a major issue and revealed that law enforcement began issuing citations to drivers without chains.
As of Tuesday, the traffic has improved but remains slow south of Eugene due to lingering icy conditions. House urged residents to check TripCheck for the latest traffic information and emphasized the importance of being aware of chain laws. ODOT is working to educate residents about chain usage and has reached out to trucking companies to ensure compliance.
House advised people to stay home if possible, especially with expected snowfall on Tuesday and Wednesday. For those who must travel, he recommended being prepared with chains, water, and a full fuel tank and anticipating longer travel times than usual. Despite the challenges, Bethany Howe finds humor in the situation, joking that her next stand-up set is practically writing itself.
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