A major winter storm has caused chaos on US roads, resulting in a massive chain-reaction crash involving over 100 vehicles in Michigan. The incident has left drivers stranded and a key interstate closed for hours.
Scene of Carnage on Interstate 196
The large-scale collision occurred on Monday, January 19, after heavy snowfall blanketed the state. Michigan State Police were forced to close a section of Interstate 196 just southwest of Grand Rapids in the morning following the huge pile-up.
Emergency services reported several injuries but, fortunately, no fatalities. The scene was described as one of utter carnage, with cars and trucks sliding off the road due to the treacherous conditions.
Driver's Terrifying Account of the Crash
Driver Pedro Mata Jr. provided a firsthand account of the terrifying moments leading up to the crash. He stated he was driving at 20-25 mph but could barely see the vehicles ahead as snow blew across the roadway.
"I managed to stop my pickup safely," Mata said, explaining that he then pulled his truck into the median to avoid being hit from behind. He described the fear of hearing the relentless impacts: "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."
Major Clean-Up and Wider Weather Warnings
The clean-up operation is vast, with more than 30 trucks involved in the removal mission. Grand Valley Towing alone sent more than a dozen trucks, with several companies working together to clear the aftermath. The company's manager emphasised the urgency: “We’re trying to get as many vehicles out of there as quickly as possible, so we can get the road opened back up."
The road was anticipated to remain shut for several hours. Stranded drivers were shuttled by bus to Hudsonville High School where they could call for assistance.
Meanwhile, weather warnings have been issued across a wide swathe of the country. Forecasters warned of storms stretching from northern Minnesota south and east into Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York. In a notable alert, temperatures were predicted to plunge below zero overnight on Monday across much of north-central Florida and southeast Georgia.
The Ottawa County Sheriff’s office in Michigan reported receiving numerous calls about other crashes and vehicles sliding off roads, underscoring the widespread disruption caused by the severe winter weather.
