Post by engine922 on Feb 10, 2008 20:23:27 GMT -5
This occured this afternoon. Here is the stroy courtesy of woodtv.com:
50+ cars collide on I-96; 400 stranded for a time
COOPERSVILLE -- A three-car crash quickly evolved into a 50+ car pileup when whiteout conditions hit westbound I-96 near Coopersville Sunday afternoon.
The accident began when three cars collided. Almost immediately after they hit each other, whiteout conditions hit the area. Dozens of cars coming up behind them saw the crash, but couldn't stop.
One by one, they hit each other, until more than 50 cars were damaged. That pile-up stranded more than 400 cars on the highway until the accident could be cleared.
Michigan State Police Lt. David Roesler told 24 Hour News 8 response crews brought in extra manpower to assist in the accident. One fire truck was also involved in the pile-up.
Some injuries were reported, and Lt. Roesler said about 20 people were transferred to area hospitals. No details on the condition of the people involved are known at this writing.
Lt. Roesler said the main problem on the roads is that "visibility is down to zero." The road conditions are bad enough, but drivers are not able to see what's in front of them.
Adam Chase, an eight-year veteran tow truck driver with John's Towing, told 24 Hour News 8 "everybody just kept piling up, piling up, piling up." He added, "paramedics were everywhere, police were everywhere. It was crazy."
Its been a rough day all around southwest michigan. Between snow and blowing snow, 30+ mph winds, and temps in single digits with wind chills below zero, it has caused several accidents on our roadways. Several highways were closed for time because of accidents caused by white-out conditions. Our central station has been out on I94 several times today, fortunately nothing serious. Even the Mackinaw Bridge that connects the lower and upper pennisula had to be closed for a time today due to high winds. Nothing like a Michigan winter!!
50+ cars collide on I-96; 400 stranded for a time
COOPERSVILLE -- A three-car crash quickly evolved into a 50+ car pileup when whiteout conditions hit westbound I-96 near Coopersville Sunday afternoon.
The accident began when three cars collided. Almost immediately after they hit each other, whiteout conditions hit the area. Dozens of cars coming up behind them saw the crash, but couldn't stop.
One by one, they hit each other, until more than 50 cars were damaged. That pile-up stranded more than 400 cars on the highway until the accident could be cleared.
Michigan State Police Lt. David Roesler told 24 Hour News 8 response crews brought in extra manpower to assist in the accident. One fire truck was also involved in the pile-up.
Some injuries were reported, and Lt. Roesler said about 20 people were transferred to area hospitals. No details on the condition of the people involved are known at this writing.
Lt. Roesler said the main problem on the roads is that "visibility is down to zero." The road conditions are bad enough, but drivers are not able to see what's in front of them.
Adam Chase, an eight-year veteran tow truck driver with John's Towing, told 24 Hour News 8 "everybody just kept piling up, piling up, piling up." He added, "paramedics were everywhere, police were everywhere. It was crazy."
Its been a rough day all around southwest michigan. Between snow and blowing snow, 30+ mph winds, and temps in single digits with wind chills below zero, it has caused several accidents on our roadways. Several highways were closed for time because of accidents caused by white-out conditions. Our central station has been out on I94 several times today, fortunately nothing serious. Even the Mackinaw Bridge that connects the lower and upper pennisula had to be closed for a time today due to high winds. Nothing like a Michigan winter!!