WANATAH, Ind. – Authorities are frantically searching for an untold number of motorists in snow-covered northwest Indiana who have been trapped in their cars in biting temperatures.

LaPorte County sheriff's Deputy Andy Hynek said Monday officials don't know how many people were stranded, but that some had been stuck for as long as 12 hours.

Strong winds caused snow drifts up to six feet high in the area and LaPorte and Porter counties issued emergency orders telling drivers to stay off the roads.

Hynek says authorities were having a hard time reaching motorists as snow plows struggled with the high drifts and roadways that were clogged with nearly 100 abandoned cars.

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