HUDSONVILLE, MI — Ottawa County Sheriff’s officials said crews cleared and reopened I-196 as of 6 p.m., Monday, Jan. 19, nearly eight hours after a 100-vehicle pileup caused the interstate shutdown in icy conditions.
“The Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the numerous law enforcement agencies, fire departments, ambulance and wrecker services, Hudsonville Public Schools and Max Transport that assisted in the removal of patients, vehicles and motorists from the highway,” the sheriff’s office report stated.
“The Sheriff’s Office is also grateful for the numerous local businesses that donated food to emergency workers that were on-scene for over seven hours.”
Crews closed I-196 in both directions in Hudsonville because of the pileup crash in icy conditions that began after 10 a.m., state police reported.
The closure was located between exits 62 and 55, read a post from the state police’s account on X, formerly Twitter.
RELATED: ‘It was terrifying.’ Driver describes pileup involving about 100 vehicles on I-196
The closure extended to neighboring Zeeland Township.
The dangerous conditions come as much of Michigan remains on alert for snow, wind and cold temperatures. For the latest information about the weather, visit mlive.com/weather.
Whiteout conditions are being reported on roads across the state. Winds are set to increase today, and conditions are expected to worsen as blowing snow causes repeated areas of low visibility for drivers. Snow squalls are also possible.
