Canadian military rescues drivers from snowy highway
Local and provincial police and the Canadian military were involved in rescue effortsCanadian military helicopters have begun rescuing motorists trapped by snow on an Ontario highway, some for more than 24 hours in frigid weather.
Police estimated that more than 300 people were stranded on Monday morning when a flash snow storm halted traffic on a 30km (18 mile) stretch of road.
Motorists rescued from Highway 402 were taken to warming centres.
But Defence Minister Peter MacKay told Canadian media some did not want to leave their vehicles.
"Some people would prefer to wait out the storm and be able to roll out with their own vehicles," he said, according to the Toronto Star.
'Just sitting there'The motorists were stranded near Sarnia, on Lake Huron near the US border.
Ontario police Sgt David Rektor told CBC news emergency workers had maintained telephone contact with the stranded motorists throughout the cold night.
"Other than being obviously frustrated by the situation, their health is in good condition and they're just sitting there, biding their time and waiting for rescue," he said.
John Stover and Larry Adams told the Toronto Star they were heading to their jobs in Sarnia about 0615 local time on Monday when the storm hit and they were stranded between highway exits.
"We're tight on gas," Mr Stover told the newspaper by telephone on Tuesday. "We've run the car every hour for 10 minutes. Luckily, Larry had a work function and had three loaves of banana-type bread. People around us had water."
Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley described the storm as the most brutal to hit the area in 25 years.
"We are urging people not to try to travel," he told CNN. "The efforts are underway and it's our hope that we'll have everyone rescued in the next 24 hours."
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