When 27-year-old mechanic Jay Withey left work on December 23, 2022, he had no idea he would spend the next 48 hours becoming an accidental Christmas hero. A historic lake-effect blizzard—one of the deadliest in Buffalo’s history—trapped him on a road near Pine Hill School in Cheektowaga, a suburb. Jay had ventured out into the blizzard to pick up a friend who was stuck in the snow. But soon his truck became stranded in whiteout conditions: 50+ mph winds. Four feet of snow.

A blizzard that would ultimately claim the lives of 46 people across Erie County.

Jay was in trouble.