A severe winter storm fueled by the Great Lakes triggered a catastrophic chain-reaction crash involving more than 100 vehicles on a Michigan interstate Monday, leading to numerous injuries and a prolonged highway closure.
Chaos on Interstate 196
The massive collision occurred on Interstate 196, just southwest of Grand Rapids near Hudsonville. Michigan State Police were forced to shut down the highway in both directions Monday morning as emergency crews worked to clear the scene. The pileup included passenger cars and more than 30 semi-trailer trucks, many of which jackknifed or slid off the roadway.
Pedro Mata Jr., a driver caught in the incident, described near-zero visibility as snow blew across the road. He was traveling at about 20 to 25 miles per hour before the crash began. After managing to stop his pickup truck safely, he moved it into the median to avoid being struck from behind.
"It was a little scary just listening to everything, the bangs and booms behind you. I saw what was in front of me. I couldn’t see what was behind me exactly," Mata said.
Storm Impacts Spread Across Regions
This major pileup is part of a larger pattern of severe winter weather moving across the United States. The National Weather Service had issued warnings for extreme cold or winter storms from northern Minnesota, stretching south and east into Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York.
The storm's reach has been remarkable. A day earlier, snow fell as far south as the Florida Panhandle and affected playoff football games in Massachusetts and Chicago. Forecasters also warned of potential freezing temperatures overnight into Tuesday across much of north-central Florida and southeast Georgia.
Emergency Response and Cleanup
The Ottawa County Sheriff’s office reported multiple crashes and stranded vehicles. Stranded motorists were bused to Hudsonville High School to call for help or arrange rides. Officials anticipated the interstate would remain closed for several hours during the extensive cleanup operation.
Towing companies responded in force despite the brutally cold conditions. Grand Valley Towing alone sent more than a dozen trucks to the scene. Manager Jeff Westveld emphasized the urgency, stating, "We’re trying to get as many vehicles out of there as quickly as possible, so we can get the road opened back up."
While the Michigan State Police confirmed numerous injuries from the pileup, no fatalities had been reported as of Monday. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by lake-effect snow and rapidly deteriorating driving conditions.
