**UPDATE 2/14 — Up to 175 cars involved in pile-ups, crashes on I-696 in Macomb, Oakland counties Sunday
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DETROIT (WWJ) – Metro Detroiters are urged to stay home if possible on Super Bowl Sunday, as snow squalls and slick conditions have led to multiple crashes on area roads and freeways.
The National Weather Service issued a Winter Weather Advisory, in effect until 8 p.m., as forecasters said squalls would make for rapidly changing visibility and road conditions, meaning anyone heading out to a Super Bowl party could be in for a dicey drive.
The most serious incidents were a multi-car pileup on I-696, and another on I-96 Express near Grand River Ave. that reportedly involved around 30 vehicles.
WWJ Traffic first reported the first pileup early in the afternoon on eastbound I-696 near Orchard Lake, due to whiteout conditions. A separate crash on the opposite side of the freeway later caused authorities to close down the eastbound lanes at I-275.
Drivers were encouraged to avoid these areas of 96 and 696 altogether until emergency crews could clear the wreckage.
According to Michigan State Police, all of these crashes started with a driver "going too fast and losing control," or a driver driving too close to the car in front of them and not being able to stop.
MSP said one driver involved in one of the I-96 crashes, at Grand River, was seriously injured when he got out of his vehicle to inspect damage. Another driver could not stop and struck the first vehicle pushing it into the first driver, now a pedestrian, pushing him into the wall.
He was taken to a local hospital with critical head injuries, police said.
While there were no other serious injuries reported, MSP said some other drivers and passengers were transported to local hospitals as a precaution.
"Slow down!" State Police added, in a tweet. "Leave enough room between you and the car in front of you so you can safely stop without slamming on the brakes! Things happen fast out there! Leave room so you can react!"
MSP said both directions of I-696 at M5 and Orchard Lake have been reopened. Westbound I-696 at Van Dyke remained closed.
One lane of eastbound I-96 Express was open, and MSP said to expect slow traffic as the areas open back up.
Stay tuned to WWJ Newsradio 950 for the latest updates on crashes and freeway closures during traffic and weather, every 10 minutes on the 8s.
As for the continuing snow, most heavily impacted areas were expected to be between the M-59 and I-94 corridors, where there could be 2-4 inches of snow.
Accuweather meteorologist Matt Benz tells WWJ most of the Metro Detroit area can expect to see 1-2 inches, although there will be “locally higher amounts, especially wherever the snow band sets up.”
“So not everyone will get in on this action, but who will get in on it is really gonna get a lot of snow, at least through this afternoon,” Benz said.
Temperatures are expected to hover around 20 most of the day, before dropping off into the teens overnight. AccuWeather is calling for temperatures to climb well into the 40s on Wednesday and Thursday, before cooling off again for the weekend.
Stay tuned to WWJ Newsradio 950 for the latest traffic and weather updates every 10 minutes on the 8s. >>> LISTEN LIVE!
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