Atlanta is currently experiencing an epic traffic jam, the result of rare snowfall for which the southern city was totally unprepared. The gridlock has left scores of people stranded on the city’s freeway, including a coach for a major college football program who ultimately abandoned his vehicle to catch a flight out of the paralyzed city.
Tom Herman, an assistant football coach for Ohio State, documented his time in the traffic nightmare with a series of tweets.
Herman began his chronicle at the 9-hour mark of what was ultimately a 19-hour wait in his rental vehicle. Desperate to make his Wednesday morning flight, Herman eventually embarked on what would have been about a four mile walk to the airport. After falling “at least five times” during the first two miles, Herman was given a lift by a man he met at a gas station.
Literally 9 straight hours in my car to go 50 miles. Mother Nature: 1, Atlanta: 0. #IGottaPee #Snowpocalypse pic.twitter.com/XHXJQaEh5B
— Tom Herman (@CoachTomHerman) January 29, 2014
Breaking News: Still on I-285. 12 hr mark has passed. At least I’m getting some quality reps at Flappy Bird. #CompetitiveExcellence
— Tom Herman (@CoachTomHerman) January 29, 2014
13 hrs and counting. Would it be bad form to leave my rental car on the freeway & just walk the 3 miles to my hotel? pic.twitter.com/59eFt5Mrns
— Tom Herman (@CoachTomHerman) January 29, 2014
@LindsaySimoneM Been in my car for about 15 hrs and counting. Haven’t seen any terrible accidents. Lots of deserted cars & cars off the road
— Tom Herman (@CoachTomHerman) January 29, 2014
Live update from ATL. I’ve moved .6 miles in the last hour. Yes, there is a decimal point in front of that number. pic.twitter.com/AbM9sIQhVv
— Tom Herman (@CoachTomHerman) January 29, 2014
Just passed the 17 hour mark stuck in the car. Don’t know what’s going on up ahead. Hope everyone is ok. We’ve traveled 1.5 miles in 10 hrs
— Tom Herman (@CoachTomHerman) January 29, 2014
Going through security now. Story coming shortly. Thank God for men like Terry Spiller. Saved me 3/4 way of my 4 mile walk to airport.
— Tom Herman (@CoachTomHerman) January 29, 2014
So… 19 hrs in my car with hundreds of my closest friends. Too much ice and accidents to move. Gotta make flight to DFW. Call National
— Tom Herman (@CoachTomHerman) January 29, 2014
Rental. Tell them I’m leavin the car and start walking the 4 miles to the airport with my luggage. Fall at least five times in first 2 miles
— Tom Herman (@CoachTomHerman) January 29, 2014
Find an gas station. Terry Spiller, my dude, shows up and won’t take a dime to take me to the final mile or two to the airport.
— Tom Herman (@CoachTomHerman) January 29, 2014
@MeganWhitt1 Gets me on 9 am flight to DFW. Now boarding the plane. Please pray for those still on the roads. Probably 24 hrs til cleared
— Tom Herman (@CoachTomHerman) January 29, 2014
