A powerful snowstorm sweeping across the United States sparked a massive chain-reaction crash in western Michigan on Monday, where more than 100 vehicles collided or slid off an icy interstate, authorities said.
The Michigan State Police shut down both directions of Interstate 196 southwest of Grand Rapids after the pileup snarled traffic and left the roadway littered with wrecked cars and more than 30 semitrailer trucks. Officials said numerous people were injured, though no deaths were reported.
The crash unfolded as heavy lake-effect snow blanketed the region, sharply reducing visibility and turning highways into sheets of ice. Crews worked for hours in frigid conditions to clear the wreckage, with authorities warning that the interstate would remain closed for an extended period during cleanup operations.
The Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office said deputies responded to multiple crashes along the same stretch of road, including jackknifed semis and dozens of vehicles that spun out or slid into ditches. Many motorists were left stranded and later transported by bus to Hudsonville High School, where they were able to warm up and arrange transportation.
The Michigan crash marked one of the most severe transportation disruptions linked to a sprawling winter storm system affecting large swaths of the country. The National Weather Service issued alerts for extreme cold and winter weather across several states, stretching from northern Minnesota through Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and into New York.
Snow from the same system reached unusually far south over the weekend, dusting parts of the Florida Panhandle and complicating outdoor events in Massachusetts and Illinois. Forecasters warned that freezing overnight temperatures could extend into north-central Florida and southeastern Georgia.
As cleanup continued in Michigan, towing companies dispatched dozens of trucks to remove damaged vehicles from the interstate. Grand Valley Towing manager Jeff Westveld said crews were racing against time and weather to reopen the highway.
“We’re trying to clear as many vehicles as we can as quickly as possible so traffic can safely resume,” Westveld said.
Officials urged drivers across storm-affected regions to avoid unnecessary travel, warning that rapidly changing conditions could lead to additional crashes as the winter system continues its march eastward.
AP
