A severe winter storm sweeping across the United States triggered a catastrophic chain-reaction crash involving more than 100 vehicles in Michigan on Monday, 19 January 2026.
Chaos on Interstate 196
The massive collision occurred on Monday morning on Interstate 196, just southwest of Grand Rapids near Hudsonville. Police reported that vehicles smashed into each other or slid off the highway as heavy snow, fuelled by moisture from the Great Lakes, blanketed the area.
The scale of the incident forced the Michigan State Police to close both directions of the vital interstate link. Officials confirmed the wreckage included more than 30 semi-trailer trucks, with many jack-knifed across the carriageway. The Ottawa County Sheriff's office detailed multiple crashes alongside numerous cars that had skidded off the road.
Emergency Response and Injuries
While there were numerous injuries reported from the scene, authorities stated that, fortunately, no fatalities had been confirmed. The emergency response was extensive, with stranded motorists being transported by bus to Hudsonville High School. There, they could contact family or arrange alternative travel while the major cleanup operation got underway.
Officials warned that the road would likely remain closed for several hours as crews worked to clear the tangled wreckage of over 100 vehicles.
Wider Storm System Impacts
This dramatic pileup is the latest result of a significant winter storm moving across the country. The National Weather Service had issued warnings for extreme cold and winter conditions across a vast swathe of states, from northern Minnesota south and east into Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York.
The storm's reach has been remarkable. A day earlier, on Sunday, snow was reported 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.
The incident underscores the severe travel disruption and danger that such rapid-onset winter weather can bring to major transport corridors.
