(WWJ) — Two people are injured after a chain reaction crash led to a fuel spill and a long freeway closure in Wayne County Wednesday afternoon.
The crash happened around 4:15 p.m. along northbound I-275 near Plymouth Road in Plymouth, according to Michigan State Police. The freeway remained closed at Ford Road, as of 7:45 p.m.
MSP officials say the preliminary investigation revealed traffic was stopped in the right lane of I-275 and a 71-year-old Howell man driving a semi couldn’t stop in time as he approached the backup.
He rear-ended another semi-truck, which was pushed into a passenger car, which then hit a van, MSP officials said. A third semi-truck tried to avoid the second semi, but sideswiped it.
The at-fault driver of the first semi and the driver of the passenger car were taken to the hospital. Their conditions were not immediately known.
In addition to the freeway closure, Hines Drive, under the overpass, was closed due to a fuel spill from one of the trucks.
“It is key to leave enough following distance between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you.” MSP First Lt. Mike Shaw said in a post on X. “It is the driver’s responsibility to make sure they can stay in control of their vehicle and stop safely.”
Authorities have not said whether distracted driving played a role in the crash.
An estimated time of reopening was not clear.
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