VAN BUREN COUNTY (WKZO-AM) — One person is dead and three others have life-threatening injuries after a series of chain-reaction collisions on Interstate 94 near Hartford early Sunday.
The wrecks closed portions of the freeway for most of Sunday afternoon and night.
Michigan State Police had initially reported two deaths, but one of the victims was revived on the way to the hospital.
“This is just a typical winter storm day in Michigan,” Lt. Melinda Logan said on Sunday.
She said motorists were driving too fast for conditions.
“What I saw while traveling here today were people traveling with less than one car length between them and the vehicle in front of them at high speeds,” Logan said.
The first pile-up began after 2 p.m. in the eastbound lanes of the freeway, involving 9 vehicles. The second involved roughly 44 vehicles, including a half-dozen semi-trailers.
The third wreck involved 18 vehicles, including another six semi-trailers.
The highway reopened at around 8 p.m. The investigation has just begun.
There are reports that a Van Buren County Sheriff’s deputy suffered minor injuries after his vehicle was struck. In a seperate crash, a Hartford Police Department cruiser was also damaged.
The Red Cross is using Hartford Federated Church on Red Arrow Highway as a shelter and information center.
– John McNeill
