DETROIT (WWJ) -- Authorities are urging drivers to slow down and drive carefully in snowy and windy conditions, as numerous crashes are being reported across Metro Detroit.
There is a pileup on northbound I-75 near E. McNichols in Detroit, which has all northbound lanes shut down (as of 1 p.m.)
Michigan State Police First Lt. Mike Shaw said as many as 20 or 25 vehicles may be involved in that pileup.
"It sounds like there's multiple crashes out there, involving maybe twenty cars or so from what we're trying to gather out there," said Shaw, speaking live on WWJ Newsradio 950. "Right now it's kind of hard to tell because often a lot of people pull over and try to help the other people involved in the crash — and so it's kind of hard to get a count."
Shaw said the good news is there were no serious injuries reported.
The wreck happened when snow squalls were moving through the area. Snow Squall Warning was in effect until 12:15 PM for I-375, I-696, I-75, I-94 near Detroit, and US-23 near South Lyon.
Shaw said a majority of these crashes are caused by people tailgating, and/or driving too fast for conditions.
"When you have these high winds or snow squalls that come through the area, if you're already driving too fast, and you're, you know, tailgating the car in front of you, when these snow squalls actually hit, people panic and they start to slam on their brakes which loses control, and then the car behind you, and it kind of starts a chain reaction," Shaw said.
"...Again, we just want to remind people: You've got to slow down, and you've gotta leave that distance between your vehicle and thee vehicle in front of you...or this is what happens."
Related
Another trouble spot: There were are a number of crashes reported on US 23 near Brighton.
MSP said southbound US-23 at Spencer Rd. was shut down due to a one car rollover crash with injury. While the left shoulder was open for traffic, driver were told to expect backups.
Drivers were reporting slick conditions and poor visibility in several spots along I-696, in Macomb and Oakland counties.
There's a High Wind Warning for all of Southeast Michigan until 9 p.m. Monday.
We will have all the updates on AM 950. Before you hit the road, tell your smart speaker to "play WWJ nine-fifty" or stream WWJ live on the free Audacy app of traffic updates, every 10 minutes on the 8s. >>LISTEN LIVE