Sen. Tim Kaine among hundreds trapped overnight in D.C.-area traffic jam caused by snowstorm, deep freeze



The closed section of I-95 is shown in an image provided by the Virginia department of transportation. On Monday January 3, 2022.

Hundreds of drivers were trapped for hours in a traffic jam on a highway outside of Washington on Tuesday, including Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine.

I started my drive to DC at 1pm yesterday. The time is later. I am not near the Capitol.

Ilse Zuniga told CNBC that the senator had been driving back to Capitol Hill from his home in Virginia. He was stuck on the highway as of Tuesday morning.

He was still in his car at 10 a.m. A Connecticut family returning in a packed car from Florida walked by in the middle of the night handing out oranges as we were stopped for hours on I-95. Bless them!

The I-95 interstate in Virginia has been closed due to downed trees and disabled vehicles in the area 50 miles south of D.C.

The VDOT posted an estimate of 30 trucks stuck on I-95.

The Virginia Department of Transportation warned Louisa County overnight of several jack-knifed tractor-trailers on U.S. Route 522.

We would like to know when travel will resume on I-95. There are multiple incidents in our area. It was frustrating and scary on Monday evening.

Josh Lederman, who was also stuck in his vehicle overnight, called the scene "fairly dystopian" in an interview on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" on Tuesday morning.

He reported from his car that nobody knew how long they would be here or how they would leave.

Lederman said that other drivers were forced to turn off their cars to conserve gasoline, even as temperatures fell well below freezing.

State and local emergency personnel are continuing to clear downed trees, assist disabled vehicles, and re-route drivers.

An emergency message is going to all stranded drivers, and the state is working with localities to open warming shelters as needed. All Virginians should avoid 1-95 while the sun is shining, according to the governor.

This is happening. You can check back for updates.