SAUGATUCK TWP., MI (WHTC-AM/FM) – Just in time for New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day traffic, I-196 northbound will be open for traffic from Douglas through Saugatuck in western Allegan County.
On Tuesday evening, Michigan Department of Transportation crews determined that the bridge carrying northbound traffic over Old Allegan Road east of Saugatuck could carry one lane of traffic.
Motorists will need to merge right in order to get over the overpass, which was damaged after a semi truck went off of it on Monday morning, crashing and burning on the road below.
The incident occurred under adverse weather conditions around 7 AM, when the semi, attempting to avoid a rear-end collision with stopped traffic, veered to the left and lost control on the icy roadway.
The driver, 35-year-old Zadairres Parson of Chicago, was hauling chemicals headed for the Grand Rapids suburb of Wyoming.
He told Grand Rapids television station WOOD that he was knocked unconscious by the airbag in his cab when it struck the ground below.
A motorist stuck in traffic, Matt Esche of Holland, spotted the truck going down, and stepped out of his vehicle to the crash scene, where the cab had already caught fire.
He told WOOD-TV that he was able to pull Parson out, and with the help of some other bystanders, carried the man up the embankment to Esche’s vehicle, as the cab exploded behind them.
He and the trucker were subsequently taken to Holland Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.
MDOT had blocked off northbound traffic at exit 36 in Douglas, diverting it along the Blue Star Highway through Douglas and east of Saugatuck, until inspectors were able to assess the damage to the overpass.
They determined that one lane was safe enough for travel, and crews are expected next week to effect repairs to bridge beams and pier columns damaged by the crash.
Southbound traffic was not affected by the closure.
Old Allegan Road remains closed from 63rd Street to Blue Star Highway until repairs to the overpass are complete.
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