A pileup involving as many as 100 cars shut down a western Michigan highway on Monday and left many drivers stranded in dangerous weather conditions.
The Ottawa County Sheriff’s office reported a multi-vehicle crash just before noon on Interstate 196 near 64th Avenue in Zeeland Township, located about 25 miles southwest of Grand Rapids.
The crash shut down I-196 in both directions between Hudsonville and Zeeland, leaving many drivers stranded. Buses from Hudsonville Public Schools were being used to transport stranded drivers from the scene to Hudsonville High School, the sheriff’s office said.
“Motorists currently stranded on scene should remain inside their vehicles until they are able to board a bus for transportation to Hudsonville High School,” the department wrote. “We are asking the public to avoid driving today, especially in this area, due to hazardous conditions.”
NBC affiliate station WOOD-TV reported the crash involved as many as 100 vehicles, and “includes several jack-knifed semi-trucks.”
Images purportedly of the scene showed several semis in ditches and crashed vehicles on snowy roadways.
The National Weather Service had warned Monday that “travel is not recommended near and west of US 131 this morning into the afternoon.”
“This especially includes I-196,” the agency wrote on X. “Whiteouts, slide offs and multi car accidents have been observed on major roads via MDOT webcams as lake effect snow bands and blowing snow are occurring.”
Snowfall rates of up to a half-inch per hour were reported.
According to WOOD-TV, the interstate was closed for roughly eight hours but had reopened as of 6 p.m. About nine to 12 people were injured in the pileup and taken to area hospitals, authorities said.
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