GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Snowy, slick roads led to slide-offs and crashes on West Michigan roads Tuesday, with I-94 proving particularly troublesome.
A multivehicle crash closed westbound I-94 at M-311/11 Mile Road between Battle Creek and Marshall for hours. Photos released by Michigan State Police showed a number of vehicles piled up, including multiple semi-trucks, one of which was jackknifed. MSP said all injuries were minor.
The aftermath of a multivehicle crash on I-94 near M-311 in Emmett Township on Jan. 14, 2025. (Courtesy Michigan State Police)
The aftermath of a multivehicle crash on I-94 near M-311 in Emmett Township on Jan. 14, 2025. (Courtesy Michigan State Police)
The aftermath of a multivehicle crash on I-94 near M-311 in Emmett Township on Jan. 14, 2025. (Courtesy Michigan State Police)
The highway was shut down between about 10:45 a.m. and 1:20 p.m.
Inside woodtv.com: Live traffic conditions
Near Kalamazoo, westbound I-94 was closed for a time at the I-94 Business Loop after another semi jackknifed around 9:30 a.m. MSP did not immediately have word on whether anyone was injured.
A News 8 crew saw the semi-truck stopped on the road, facing the wrong direction after it jackknifed. Westbound traffic was backed up after where emergency crews had shut down the highway.
A jackknifed semi-truck on westbound I-94 near Kalamazoo on Jan. 14, 2025.
The Michigan Department of Transportation reported the westbound lanes had reopened around 11:30 a.m.
Further north, Kent County dispatchers reported that six cars crashed on M-6 near Byron Center Avenue in Byron Township between about 9:25 a.m. and 9:50 a.m. No one seemed to have been seriously injured, dispatchers said, but the crashes caused closures in both the east and westbound lanes. All lanes were reopened by 11 a.m.
Cold and blustery with more lake-effect snow Tuesday
State police warned of whiteout conditions all over Southwest Michigan and “reports of several crashes around the region resulting in a multitude of road closures.” They urged drivers to “use extreme caution and Slow Down, especially SEMI truck drivers,” citing the jackknifed trailers.
“It’s frigid out and roads are slippery,” MSP wrote in a social media post, “this will be our norm for the foreseeable future. Knowing this, let’s make sure we do our part to ensure the safety of ourselves and others.”
A slide-off along US-131 on Jan. 14, 2025.
A slide-off along US-131 on Jan. 14, 2025.
How Grand Rapids crews prioritize which roads to plow first
Saying lake-effect snow would continue into Wednesday morning, the National Weather Service in Grand Rapids told drivers to be prepared for for tricky travel conditions like snow-covered roads and reduced visibility, including during the Tuesday evening drive. It said conditions would remain particularly hazardous south of I-96.
“Use caution and give yourself extra time” on the roads, the NWS said.
If you have to head out in poor winter weather, remember to slow down and leave plenty of space between vehicles, plus remove all distractions so you can focus on the road. MSP also reminded drivers to be wary of sheer ice, especially on bridges and overpasses.
The Kent County Road Commission said in a release that it was prioritizing clearing and treating state and and primary roads, saying it would move to local roads “as the weather allows.”
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
#Snow #jackknifed #semis #snarl #traffic #West #Michigan
Leave a Reply