Local police said that on Monday, January 19th, a chain reaction collision involving a hundred vehicles occurred on Interstate 196 in western Michigan due to icy road conditions caused by snow.
The accident took place on westbound Interstate 196 in Hudsonville, Michigan, a suburb of Grand Rapids, resulting in approximately 12 injuries but luckily no fatalities.
The section of Interstate 196 from 32nd Avenue to 64th Street has been closed off.
The Ottawa County Sheriff’s office is investigating the incident, which happened around 10:20 a.m.
Authorities stated, “Personnel are working diligently to safely remove all uninvolved vehicles from the accident area. The accident was reported at 10:19 a.m., with an estimated 30 to 40 semi-trucks involved.” The exact cause of the accident is still not clear.
Officials anticipate that the highway will remain closed for several hours for cleanup.
Earlier on Monday, the area near Grand Rapids experienced severe snowstorms and low visibility due to lake-effect snow, creating dangerous driving conditions.
Severe weather conditions can quickly become life-threatening, especially for those involved in accidents or stranded on the roads for hours. Shortly after the accident, AccuWeather indicated that the wind chill on that stretch of road was around -10°F (approximately -23°C), with wind gusts of 35 miles per hour and blowing snow.
Police have arranged for buses to transport stranded drivers to Hudsonville High School, where they can wait to go home.
Authorities advise drivers in the area to avoid traveling at this time.
Michigan State Police emphasized, “Road conditions are extremely dangerous. Speeding increases the risk of serious traffic accidents. If you must travel, please reduce speed, maintain a safe following distance, and exercise extra caution.”