MACOMB COUNTY (WWJ) - Drivers had to deal with a major mess on Metro Detroit freeways Tuesday morning as westbound I-696 in Macomb County saw a two hour back-up after a rolled-over semi truck forced all lanes to close, leading to another big rollover in the backup.
WWJ traffic reporter Michelle Peña described the freeway as "a parking lot" around 7:30 a.m. after a crash caused a semi truck to overturn, dumping its load of steel coils all over the westbound lanes of the freeway near Mound Road.
The freeway was shutdown at Van Dyke with drivers caught in an estimated two hour delay.
"You're all the way back up from just before Groesbeck, drivers are going no more than two miles an hour through that area," Peña reported early in the morning. "Avoid it entirely. You're going to want to take a mile road because that service drive is also heavy at this time."
Around 8 a.m. Michigan State Police reported the traffic mess was only getting bigger after a garbage truck rolled over near Mound.
No injuries were reported in either incident.
"Often we see secondary crashes in the back up of freeway crashes. Today is no exception," troopers said.
MSP is advising drivers be patient, use caution and keep your distance from the vehicle in front of you.
The crashes came as light rain fell across the area with heavier downpours in some spots. Troopers say the weather, mixed in with speeding drivers, created the miserable Tuesday commute.
"There are way too many drivers driving too fast out and causing crashes," 1st Lt. Mike Shaw stated on social media. "It's hard to travel for Thanksgiving if your car is in the shop. Slow down, buckle up and increase your following distance. And as always be nice out there."
Other crashes have been reported across Metro Detroit freeways throughout the day.
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