GRAND RAPIDS (WWJ) -- Whiteout conditions are responsible for a roughly 100-vehicle pile up in West Michigan Monday morning, according to authorities.
The Ottawa County Sheriff's Office told WWJ Newsradio 950 that 911 calls started coming in at 8 a.m. on Jan. 19 about crashes along I-196, west of Grand Rapids. The pileup itself is believed to have happened at around 10:20 a.m., according to police.
Officers on the scene estimated that about 100 or more vehicles were involved.
The sheriff's office said that only minor injuries have been reported in this series of crashes, although they could not offer specifics as to the number of people who were treated.
Michigan State Police said it deployed additional resources from the Fifth and Sixth Districts to assist at the scene.
MSP said I-196 was closed in both directions between exits 62 and 55 and will remain closed until the scene is secure and safe.
"An estimated 30–40 semi-trucks are involved. Please avoid the area and use alternate routes," MSP said.
The freeway remained closed as of noon.
This came as the National Weather Service in Grand Rapids has issued a warning to drivers, saying that “travel is not recommended” near and west of US-131 through Monday afternoon, due to lake-effect snow and blowing snow causing "whiteout conditions."
"This especially includes I-196," NWS said.
Meanwhile, in Metro Detroit, forecasters warned of gusty winds and snow squalls that could make travel treacherous.
Officials at the MSP Second District reminded drivers: "If you come across a snow squall slow down and increase your following distance. The biggest cause of crashes during snow squalls are drivers going too fast and following too closely."
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