50-car pileup on I-94 near Kalamazoo, Mich.

[inanna]

Source: CBC

Michigan State Police say at least one person has died in a series of crashes involving dozens of vehicles on both sides of Interstate 94 in southwestern Michigan.

Insp. Tracey McAndrew says the pileup involves 50 to 70 vehicles. He says one person has died and there are others who are injured. Some vehicles are on fire.

The crashes are located between mile markers 88 and 92 in eastern Kalamazoo County, near Galesburg. McAndrew says slick roads may have been a factor. He says people who aren't injured are being taken to warming centres.

Elsewhere in Michigan, crashes closed major roads in Monroe, Saginaw, Kent and Genesee counties.

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/50-car-pileup-on-i-94-near-kalamazoo-mich-1.2895472?cmp=rss

[mikeysnot]

1. I've driven that stretch

of 94 many of times with blinding, slippery lake effect snow, bad times....

[inanna]

2. I've been along that stretch as well during whiteout conditions. n/t

[mikeysnot]

3. yes you go low and slow....

[inanna]

4. UPDATE: Michigan evacuates area near accident involving hazardous materials (Reuters)

Fri Jan 9, 2015 1:30pm EST

(Reuters) - Hazardous materials officials on Friday ordered the evacuation of everyone living within 3 miles of a multi-vehicle crash in southern Michigan after a trailer transporting hazardous material caught fire, state police said.

"As of 12:10 pm, hazmat is asking for a 3-mile evacuation," Trooper O.J. Hamilton told Reuters. He did not know the hazardous material that was involved in the accident some 10 miles east of Kalamazoo on Interstate 94.

Link: http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/01/09/us-usa-weather-michigan-evacuation-idUSKBN0KI1WH20150109?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews

[JDDavis]

5. So Hazmat trucks are allowed to drive in white-out snow?

Lovely!

Of course, Republicans will say we shouldn't over-regulate the trucking industry.

[James48]

6. UPDATE- now 150 cars and trucks

and also some video just posted of the fireworks truck fire.

http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2015/01/09/i-94-pileup-kalamazoo-county/21500281/

Nasty.


More:
"GALESBURG, Mich. -- A three-mile radius has been evacuated around a massive deadly pileup on I-94 as four semis burn, including one with hazardous material and another hauling fireworks.

Both directions of I-94 are closed in eastern Kalamazoo County due to the wreck involving more than 100 vehicles.

Michigan State Police say a trucker from Ottawa, Canada, has died and multiple others are injured. People who are not injured were taken to warming centers, according to State Police Inspector Tracey McAndrew.

"Hazmat officials believe that hazardous material that was on scene is probably entirely burned off by now, so what we're asking for now is for shelter in place, where anyone within one mile of the crash scene, we're just asking them if they have not evacuated to stay inside," said Michigan State Police Lieutenant Rick Pazder.

Police first reported that 90 vehicles were involved, then no more than 70. But Pazder says a better count now puts the number around 150, with a majority in westbound lanes.

Law enforcement described the scene as a "very chaotic situation." Drivers are advised to avoid the area as I-94 will be closed for much of the afternoon."

Video and more at: http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2015/01/09/i-94-pileup-kalamazoo-county/21500281/

[inanna]

8. Thanks for update James48

Nasty indeed.

[inanna]

9. Michigan police lift evacuation in zone of multi-vehicle accident (Reuters)

(Reuters) - Michigan State Police on Friday lifted an evacuation order for the area around a fiery crash involving 150 vehicles, including a trailer transporting formic acid that caught on fire.

"That has been lifted. We believe all the product has burned off," State Police Lieutenant Rick Pazder said. Earlier, state officials had asked people in a 3-mile radius of the accident to evacuate.

Link: http://news.yahoo.com/michigan-police-lift-evacuation-zone-multi-vehicle-accident-193709726.html

[muntrv]

7. One of the vehicles include a truck carrying fireworks and apparently, it is 4th of July in January.

As in there are explosions.

[marions ghost]

10. yikes