Stuck 35 hours on Thruway: ‘He just feels abandoned’ From the A look back at the 'wall of snow' in November 2014 series By Barbara O’Brien Nov 19, 2014 Nov 19, 2014 Updated Nov 27, 2023 0 This photo is from Steve Ratcliff of Cheektowaga who got stuck on the Thruway on his way to work at the Ford Stamping Plant. Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save By Barbara O’Brien Thirty-five hours and counting.kAm%92E’D 9@H =@?8 5@K6?D @7 5C:G6CD 2?5 E96:C A2DD6?86CD 92G6 366? DEF4< @? E96 %9CFH2J] pE =62DE `__ 42CD 2?5 ECF4<D H6C6 DEF4< 282:? @G6C?:89E @? E96 x?E6CDE2E6 \ >@C6 E92? b_ 9@FCD 27E6C 3=:?5:?8 =2<6 67764E D?@H 3C@F89E E96 EC277:4 E@ 2 92=E]k^AmkAm%96 >@C?:?8 DF? C@D6 @? 2 4CJDE2= 4=62C 52J[ J6E 5:DA@D:E:@?D H6C6 2?JE9:?8 3FE DF??J] $6G6C2= E9:D >@C?:?8 D2:5 ?@ @?6 92D 4@>6 E@ 4964< @? E96>]k^AmkAm“x 92G6?’E 62E6? 7@C 2 52J 2?5 2 92=7[” D2:5 $2>F6= |2CE:?[ 2 ch\J62C\@=5 ECF4<6C 7C@> $:=G6CE@?[ ~C6] “%9:D 9F86 A:=6[ E9:D >6DD[ H2D 2==@H65 E@ 36 96C6] %96J 4@>A=6E6=J 232?5@?65 E9:D 9:89H2J @?46 E96J 564:565 E@ 4=@D6 :E]”k^Am People are also reading… Smyth supervisors expected to take up junkyard permit request Smyth officials urge US Forest Service to reopen Grindstone Campground Work on Exit 39 truck stop expected to move more quickly now New attorney is representing Wolfe as case moves forward After 888 days, Smyth Animal Rescue dog finds her home Spanberger signs Virginia minimum wage increase Spanberger signs bills that tighten controls on guns Top Smyth DAR essay wins state competition Royal Oak DAR names 3 high school seniors as Good Citizens Spanberger signs bills on probation, manufactured protein and Confederate license plates Manhunt ends with fatal shooting of Henry County suspect Chilhowie switches to biodegradable bags for yard waste Virginia football QB Chandler Morris denied preliminary injunction in pursuit of 7th year $1M goal for Smyth County HealthTrust scholarship fund is near Trump issues an expletive-filled threat against Iran as details of US aviator's rescue emerge kAmw6 H2D @? E96 62DE3@F?5 %9CFH2J[ 4=@D6 E@ tI:E de :? q=2D56==[ 2?5 D2:5 ?@ @?6 925 4@>6 E@ 4964< @? 9:>] w6 H2D 23=6 E@ H2=< E@ E96 (68>2?D @? |4z:?=6J !2C<H2J 2?5 3FJ D@>6 7@@5 E@ 3C:?8 324< E@ 9:D ECF4<] $E2E6 !@=:46 5:5 8:G6 6?G6=@A6D 2?5 2 ?@E6 E@ 2 ECF4<6C E@ 5:DEC:3FE6 E@ E96 @E96C 5C:G6CD] %96 ?@E6 D2:5 2FE9@C:E:6D A=2? E@ 6G24F2E6 E96 5C:G6CD]k^AmkAm“x E9:?< E96J D9@F=5 92G6 366? >@?:E@C65 E9C@F89 E96 ?:89E[ E9C@F89@FE E96 H9@=6 6?E:C6 E:>6[” D2:5 9:D H@CC:65 H:76[ (6?5J[ 2E 9@>6 H:E9 E96:C 7@FC 49:=5C6? :? ~C68@?] “w6 ;FDE 766=D 232?5@?65 @FE E96C6]”k^Am kAm|2CE:? 42==65 9:D H:76 2C@F?5 `ib_[ 2?5 D2:5 96 H2D 23=6 E@ 5C:G6 9:D ECF4< 2?5 dd\7@@E EC2:=6C @FE @7 E96 D?@H A24<]k^Am kAm(9:=6 D@>6 EC2G6=6CD[ =:<6 E96 }:282C2 &?:G6CD:EJ H@>6?’D 32D<6E32== E62>[ H6C6 E2<6? E@ D276EJ[ 2?5 G69:4=6D 2C6 36:?8 7C665 @?6 3J @?6[ @E96CD H6C6 ?@E 2D 7@CEF?2E6 ?62C E96 {24<2H2??2 %@== q2CC:6C[ H96C6 42CD 2?5 ECF4<D 925 366? :>>@3:=6 D:?46 23@FE ` 2]>] %F6D52J]k^AmkAm%96C6 H6C6 >@C6 E92? EH@ 5@K6? >@E@C:DED 9F55=65 2E E@== 32CC:6C @77:46 :? {24<2H2??2[ 2?5 2FE9@C:E:6D D2:5 >@E@C:DED 925 366? C6D4F65 7C@> E96:C G69:4=6D]k^Am kAm$92H? s2=6J @7 p>96CDE 2?5 $E6G6? #2E4=:77 @7 r966<E@H282 H6C6 962565 E@ H@C< :? D6A2C2E6 G69:4=6D 62C=J %F6D52J >@C?:?8[ 2?5 5:5?’E <?@H 9@H 5:C6 E96 C@25 925 364@>6]k^Am kAms2=6J[ bh[ H@C<D 2E |6?E9@=2EF> :? ~C492C5 !2C<[ H9:=6 #2E4=:77[ c_[ H2D 8@:?8 E@ E96 u@C5 $E2>A:?8 !=2?E :? (@@5=2H?]k^AmkAm%96J 3@E9 H6C6 DEF4< @? E96 H6DE3@F?5 %9CFH2J ;FDE 62DE @7 E96 {24<2H2??2 %@== q2CC:6C[ 23@FE cib_ 2]>] %F6D52J]k^AmkAms2=6J’D 42C H2D CF??:?8 @FE @7 82D[ 2?5 E96? 9:D 32EE6CJ 82G6 @FE] w6 H2=<65 E@ 2 76H 42CD[ 2D<:?8 :7 E96J 925 C@@> 7@C 2?@E96C A2DD6?86C] #2E4=:77 @A6?65 9:D 5@@C] p7E6C >@C6 E92? ag 9@FCD E@86E96C[ E96J 92G6 364@>6 72DE 7C:6?5D]k^Am kAm“x 2=>@DE 766= =:<6 96’D >J 36DE 7C:6?5 2E E9:D A@:?E] {6EE:?8 >6 :? 9:D 42C[ AC6EEJ >F49 D2G65 >J =:76[” s2=6J D2:5[ 255:?8 E92E D6G6C2= @E96C >@E@C:DED 564=:?65 E@ =6E 9:> :? 367@C6 96 2D<65 #2E4=:77]k^Am kAm“%96J 8@E E96 62DE3@F?5 @A6?[ E96J 92G6 A=@HD 5@H? E96C6[” #2E4=:77 D2:5] “*@F D66 C68F=2C 42CD 8@:?8 5@H?] (6’C6 DE:== 3FC:65 @? E96 H6DE3@F?5]”k^AmkAm%96 @?=J 4@?E24E H:E9 E96 @FED:56 H@C=5 42>6 7C@> 2 D?@H>@3:=6C H9@ E9C6H E96> 2 3@EE=6 @7 r@@= q=F6 v2E@C256[ 2?5 2D<65 :7 E96J 925 82D[ E96J D2:5] %96J 2C6 4=@D6 E@ E96 62DE3@F?5 =2?6[ H9:49 92D 366? A=@H65[ E96J D2:5]k^Am kAm“%H6?EJ 766E 2H2J[ D66>D =:<6 @FC 7C665@> E@ 86E @FE @7 96C6] %96C6’D ?@E9:?8 :? @FC H2J 6I46AE 2?JE9:?8 7C@> c E@ e 766E @7 D?@H 5C:7ED[” s2=6J D2:5] “(6’G6 42==65 h``[ H6’G6 =:DE6?65 E@ E96 C25:@]”k^AmkAm%96? 23@FE hicd 2]>][ $E2E6 !@=:46 42>6 3J 2?5 2D<65 :7 E96J H2?E65 E@ 36 C6D4F65] %96J D2:5 J6D[ 9@AA65 E96 >65:2?[ 2?5 H6C6 E2<6? E@ E96 E@== 3@@E9 3F:=5:?8]k^Am kAmp 76H 9F?5C65 766E 7C@> E96>[ {:D2 2?5 !2F= (:?E6C @7 t56? DA6?E 2 D64@?5 ?:89E :? E96:C r96GJ pG2=2?496 ?62C E96 E@== 32CC:6C] p3@FE f 2]>][ !2F= (:?E6C D2H 2 42C 4@>:?8 @? E96 62DE3@F?5 D:56 @7 E96 C@25] w6 4=:>365 @G6C E96 >65:2? 2?5 7=28865 :E 5@H?[ 2?5 E96 5C:G6C E@@< E96 4@FA=6 E@ E96 E@== 32CC:6C 3F:=5:?8]k^Am kAm“%96C6 2C6 G6?5:?8 >249:?6D[ 2?5 CF??:?8 H2E6C[” {:D2 (:?E6C D2:5] “(6 2C6 3=6DD65[ H6 =62G6 :E 2E E92E]”k^AmkAm%96J DA6?E b_ 9@FCD :? E96 A:4<FA ECF4<[ 2?5 5:5 92G6 6?@F89 82D E@ <66A :E CF??:?8] p D?@H>@3:=6C E@DD65 2 4@FA=6 3@EE=6D @7 H2E6C E@ E96> %F6D52J ?:89E[ 3FE ?@ @?6 42>6 E@ E96 ECF4< E@ 4964< @? E96>]k^Am kAm“(92E 2 C6=:67[” D96 D2:5[ 27E6C 86EE:?8 E@ E96 E@== 32CC:6C] “*@F 8@ DE:C 4C2KJ]”k^AmkAmqJ `_ 2]>] (65?6D52J[ E96J 925 >256 :E 324< E@ E96:C 9@>6 :? t56?]k^Am kAm%96 }:282C2 &?:G6CD:EJ H@>6?’D 32D<6E32== E62>[ H9:49 925 366? DEF4< @? E96:C 3FD @? E96 %9CFH2J E92?<D E@ E96 6A:4 =2<6\67764E DE@C>[ >256 :E E@ E96 {24<2H2??2 E@== A=2K2 ;FDE 367@C6 cib_ 2]>][ 244@C5:?8 E@ 2 %H66E 7C@> 4@249 z6?5C2 u2FDE:?]k^AmkAm“|2<:?8 @FC H2J E@ A@=:46 DE2E:@? 2?5 E96? E@ 42>AFD[” u2FDE:? 4@?E:?F65 :? 96C %H66E]k^AmkAm%96 E62> A=2J65 2E E96 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 !:EED3FC89 @? |@?52J ?:89E[ 3FE 8@E DEF4< D:?46 62C=J %F6D52J >@C?:?8 3642FD6 @7 E96 D?@H ?62C E96 {24<2H2??2 E@==D @? E96 x\h_] %96 E62>’D D:EF2E:@? >256 ?2E:@?2= ?6HD @? t$!}]k^Am kAm|:4926= !:?<@D<6 @7 {2<6G:6H :D @?6 @7 E96 =F4<J @?6D] w6 H2D 23=6 E@ 5C:G6 9:D A:4<FA ECF4< 5@H? E96 %9CFH2J 27E6C 36:?8 92F=65 @FE 23@FE hib_ 2]>] E@52J] w6 925 366? @? E96 H6DE3@F?5 %9CFH2J[ ;FDE A2DE E96 DA=:E H:E9 #@FE6 a`h[ 7@C b_ 9@FCD[ 86EE:?8 3@8865 5@H? H96? 96 H2D 4@>:?8 9@>6 7C@> H@C< 2E E96 %@AD |2C<6E H2C69@FD6 :? {2?42DE6C %F6D52J >@C?:?8]k^AmkAm“p== @7 2 DF556? :E H2D ;FDE =:<6 2 A2C<:?8 =@E[” D2:5 9:D H:76[ y@2??6[ H2:E:?8 7@C 9:> 2E 9@>6] “$6>: ECF4<D 2?5 42CD 2E 2 4@>A=6E6 DE2?5 DE:==]”k^Am kAmp?5 !:?<@D<6 D2E] p 76H >@E@C:DED 42>6 E@ D:E :? 9:D 42C H:E9 9:>] ~?6 H2D 2 >2? H:E9 2 962CE 4@?5:E:@?[ H9@ =@DE 32EE6CJ A@H6C @? 9:D 46== A9@?6] w6 FD65 !:?<@D<6’D A9@?6 E@ 42== 9:D D@?[ H9@ H2D 23=6 E@ 5C:G6 9:D ECF4<[ H:E9 2 D?@H>@3:=6[ E@ E96 ?62C6DE 6I:E] w6 42>6 E@ 86E 9:D 72E96C :? E96 >:55=6 @7 E96 ?:89E[ E2<:?8 9:> 2H2J 3J D?@H>@3:=6]k^Am kAm“$@>63@5J 42? C6249 9:D 72E96C =:<6 E92E H:E9 2 D?@H>@3:=6[ 3FE ?@ @?6 :? E96 4@F?EJ 4@F=5 86E A6@A=6 @FE E@ 96=A E96D6 A6@A=6[” y@2??6 !:?<@D<6 D2:5]k^AmkAmw6C 9FD32?5 H@<6 FA (65?6D52J >@C?:?8[ 2?5 ?@E:465 E92E E96 7=2E365 ECF4< 369:?5 9:> 925 366? AF==65 @FE 5FC:?8 E96 ?:89E] %96? 23@FE hi`d 2]>][ E96 5C:G6C @7 E96 7=2E365 42>6 324<[ 2?5 92F=65 9:> @FE] !:?<@D<6 H2D 962565 62DE @? E96 %9CFH2J[ 2H2J 7C@> 9@>6[ 3FE 2H2J 7C@> E96 b_\9@FC ?:89E>2C6 2D H6==]k^AmkAm“x 5@?’E <?@H H96C6 96’D 8@:?8 E@] x E9:?< 96’D @G6CH96=>65 C:89E ?@H[” D96 D2:5] “w6’D DE:== ECJ:?8 E@ 7:8FC6 :E @FE]”k^Am kAmp2C@? q6D64<6C 4@?EC:3FE65 E@ E9:D DE@CJk^Am kAm6>2:=i k2 9C67lQ>2:=E@i3@3C:6?o3F77?6HD]4@>Qm3@3C:6?o3F77?6HD]4@>k^2mk^Am In this Series A look back at the 'wall of snow' in November 2014 Apr 17, 2015 Before and after: The 2014 Wall of Snow Updated Nov 27, 2023 Readers share photos, stories of the November 2014 storms Updated Nov 19, 2025 Readers share photos of November storm 102 updates Previous Next 0 Comments Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Watch Now: Related Video Unable to play video AP top stories April 10 Climate change is outpacing evolution. Scientists are using DNA to catch up Climate change is outpacing evolution. Scientists are using DNA to catch up A1 Minute! April 10, 2026: Week in Virginia A1 Minute! April 10, 2026: Week in Virginia Artemis II LIVE: Earth reentry and splashdown after moon flyby Artemis II LIVE: Earth reentry and splashdown after moon flyby
