Post by engine922 on Sept 7, 2007 16:24:35 GMT -5
This occured last night after a rain storm blew thru the area. It was a huge mess. Our central and east stations responded to this call.
Article courtesy of the Kalamazoo Gazette:
18 vehicles crash and close I-94
A chaotic Thursday night on a stretch of westbound Interstate 94 near Galesburg included a string of accidents, several injuries and the closing of the highway for more than four hours.
Representatives from the Kalamazoo County Sheriff's Department say the most likely cause of several crashes and countless fender benders was a rain-slickened road surface.
The sheriff's department estimates at least 18 cars and tractor-semitrailers were involved.
Six people were taken to Bronson Methodist Hospital and Borgess Medical Center. The most seriously injured, Kimberly Lem of Mattawan, was reported in good condition at Bronson this morning.
The first crash
The sheriff's department said westbound I-94 near 35th Street was wet because of a rain storm around 6:18 p.m.
A car and semi collided near the 35th Street ramp, causing the semi to jackknife and block traffic, and leading to several chain reaction accidents behind it.
No one was injured in the initial crash, the sheriff's department said.
The second crash
Semis trying to avoid the first accident led 11 vehicles, five of them semis, to pile into each other, the sheriff's department said. One of the trucks lost a 35,000-pound roll of steel. Another semi struck that roll and lost control, causing a car behind it to hit the semi, and then four more cars rammed the rear of the steel-hauling semi.
One person had to be extricated in the crash. Of the six taken to area hospitals, five were treated and released, police said.
The third crash
The next crash was caused by the traffic backup, police said. A semi driver was unable to stop for the backed-up traffic and drove his truck into trees to avoid slamming into the other vehicles.
His truck and trailer were destroyed, but he was not injured.
The cleanup
The highway was closed for more than four hours, opening up around 10:30 p.m. A partial traffic lane had been opened to get vehicles that had not crashed through and out of the way, the sheriff's department said.
Also responding to the accidents were the Comstock Fire Department, Climax Fire Department, Galesburg Police Department, Pride Care Ambulance and Michigan State Motor Carrier.
The crash is still under investigation.
Article courtesy of the Kalamazoo Gazette:
18 vehicles crash and close I-94
A chaotic Thursday night on a stretch of westbound Interstate 94 near Galesburg included a string of accidents, several injuries and the closing of the highway for more than four hours.
Representatives from the Kalamazoo County Sheriff's Department say the most likely cause of several crashes and countless fender benders was a rain-slickened road surface.
The sheriff's department estimates at least 18 cars and tractor-semitrailers were involved.
Six people were taken to Bronson Methodist Hospital and Borgess Medical Center. The most seriously injured, Kimberly Lem of Mattawan, was reported in good condition at Bronson this morning.
The first crash
The sheriff's department said westbound I-94 near 35th Street was wet because of a rain storm around 6:18 p.m.
A car and semi collided near the 35th Street ramp, causing the semi to jackknife and block traffic, and leading to several chain reaction accidents behind it.
No one was injured in the initial crash, the sheriff's department said.
The second crash
Semis trying to avoid the first accident led 11 vehicles, five of them semis, to pile into each other, the sheriff's department said. One of the trucks lost a 35,000-pound roll of steel. Another semi struck that roll and lost control, causing a car behind it to hit the semi, and then four more cars rammed the rear of the steel-hauling semi.
One person had to be extricated in the crash. Of the six taken to area hospitals, five were treated and released, police said.
The third crash
The next crash was caused by the traffic backup, police said. A semi driver was unable to stop for the backed-up traffic and drove his truck into trees to avoid slamming into the other vehicles.
His truck and trailer were destroyed, but he was not injured.
The cleanup
The highway was closed for more than four hours, opening up around 10:30 p.m. A partial traffic lane had been opened to get vehicles that had not crashed through and out of the way, the sheriff's department said.
Also responding to the accidents were the Comstock Fire Department, Climax Fire Department, Galesburg Police Department, Pride Care Ambulance and Michigan State Motor Carrier.
The crash is still under investigation.