Stranded, injured motorists and jack-knifed semis: Massive 100-car pile-up shuts down I-196
Officials announced that, as of 6:32 p.m., both sides of I-196 have been reopened.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Officials announced that, as of 6:32 p.m., both sides of I-196 have been reopened.
OTTAWA COUNTY — More than 100 vehicles were involved in a massive pileup on I-196 in Zeeland Township.
The incident began around 10:19 a.m. Monday, Jan. 19, near 64th Avenue. Authorities received an outpouring of calls about crashes, slide-offs, and several jack-knifed semi-trucks in the area.
There were numerous injuries reported, though “none are known to be fatal at this time,” according to the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office.
Ottawa County Sheriff’s Captain Jacob Sparks said as of 12:40 p.m., nine had been transported to the hospital, and all others injured were either treated at the scene and then transported by bus to be reunited with family and friends for a ride.
Deputies are at the scene working with first responders to treat those injured and transport them to local hospitals.
The Michigan State Police and Zeeland Police Department are assisting deputies on the scene.
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Shortly after noon, the highway remained closed in both directions between the Hudsonville exit of I-196 (exit 62) and the Zeeland exit of I-196 (exit 55). Authorities are urging motorists to avoid that stretch of I-196 and to travel only when necessary.
Buses from Hudsonville High School and MAX Transit are being used to assist sheriff officials with transporting stranded motorists from the scene to Hudsonville High School.
“Once at the school, they can summon assistance or schedule a ride to pick them up from the Hudsonville High School cafeteria,” authorities said in a news release.
Deputies were advising all motorists stranded at the scene to remain inside their vehicles until they could board a bus to Hudsonville High School.
The highway is expected to be closed for several hours during clean-up and removal of vehicles and patients.
— Heather VanDyke covers northern Ottawa County for the Ottawa News Network. Contact her at hvandyke@ottawanewsnetwork.org.
