RUSTON, LOUISIANA — A truck driver stranded in freezing conditions near Ruston says traffic barely moved for most of the day, leaving motorists stuck for hours with little indication of when help or relief would reach their stretch of roadway.

Jameyson MacDonald told KTBS he had been nearly motionless in his semi-truck, inching forward only slightly as vehicles remained backed up.

“I’ve moved literally half a mile in about eight and a half hours,” MacDonald said.

MacDonald said he saw social media posts showing law enforcement helping stranded drivers in other areas — including providing fuel — but claimed he hadn’t seen anyone checking on the drivers near him.

“I see the posts on Facebook where officers are giving gas,” he said. “I don’t know where that’s at, but it’s not here. Not a single police officer has come down here where we’re at.”

With temperatures hovering around 20 degrees, MacDonald said he has kept his semi running to stay warm and avoid the risk of the truck not restarting if it’s shut off. He said his wife was traveling with him and that the cold made stopping the engine a serious concern.

“I’ve got my wife with me, and it’s 20 degrees,” he said. “When it’s this cold, there’s a real good chance these trucks won’t start back up.”

MacDonald said he had food, water and refrigeration in his truck, but he worried about stranded motorists in passenger vehicles who may not have supplies or a reliable way to stay warm.

“I feel sorry for the people in cars,” MacDonald said. “Unless they were already on a trip with food and water, they’re in bad shape.”

As the standstill continued, drivers remained stuck in the freezing conditions, waiting for traffic to move — or for help to arrive.

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