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3 Lansing residents among 4 killed in I-96 crash near Webberville

Online Niel November 4, 2024

Lansing State Journal Staff
| Lansing State Journal

This story has been updated to correct an inaccuracy by the Michigan State Police and to add new information, photos and video.

LEROY TWP. — Three Lansing residents were among four people who died after a semi struck more than a dozen vehicles stopped for a traffic backup on westbound Interstate 96 near Webberville late Saturday night, said Michigan State Police.

Two Lansing women, ages 20 and 43, and a 47-year-old Lansing man died in the crash that seriously injured 17 others, MSP said in an update Sunday afternoon. The unnamed Lansing victims were in a Chevy Trax and were relatives. The fourth person who died was a 29-year-old Carson City man who was driving a Ford F-150 truck.

The crash happened around 11:42 p.m., shortly after state police reopened the westbound lanes of the highway due to power line installation near the M-52 overpass, according to MSP. The highway had been closed earlier in the evening so DTE Energy crews could install power lines over it.

I-96 closed in Ingham County after crash kills 4, seriously injures 17 near Webberville

Four people were killed and 17 others were seriously injured after a semi involving more than a dozen vehicles was stopped for a traffic backup on westbound Interstate 96 near Webberville late Saturday night, state police said from Michigan. The impact caused the semi and many of the vehicles involved to burst into flames.

Courtesy of Joe Bogue, Owosso

“Tropical had just completed a stop on westbound I-96 at the M-52 overpass and had just reopened the freeway,” MSP said in a social media post. “At that time, numerous vehicles were stopped on the highway. A semi-truck with a trailer was westbound on the freeway coming into stopped traffic. It appears the semi truck driver did not see the stand and was unable to stop his vehicle in time.”

The semi was in the left lane and struck numerous vehicles, MSP said, and the impact caused the semi and many of the vehicles involved to catch fire.

I-96 crash near Webberville kills 4, seriously injures 17

Courtesy of Joe Bogue of Owosso

MSP said Sunday morning it believed “approximately” 15 vehicles, including the semis, were involved in the crash.

The injured truck driver, MSP said Sunday, was taken to the University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor for treatment. Police said the truck driver’s age and hometown remained unknown. Other victims of the crash were taken to University of Michigan Sparrow and McLaren hospitals in Lansing, police said.

“Westbound I-96 at M-52 will be closed indefinitely,” MSP said Sunday afternoon. “In addition, northbound and southbound M-52 is closed at the I-96 overpass until the bridge is inspected.”

Colleen Rosso, a spokeswoman for DTE Energy, said the nighttime work to install the power lines is scheduled to reduce the impact on travelers. The utility works closely with the Michigan Department of Transportation and state police on such projects.

She directed the State Journal to MDOT to find out if there are signs or billboards notifying drivers of work or traffic backups. She pointed out that DTE Energy cannot put up traffic signs or billboards on MDOT roads like I-96.

“This was a DTE project,” MDOT spokesman Aaron Jenkins said in an email. “They had work permits. It’s not an MDOT work zone, but MSP is providing traffic control from what I’ve read. The MSP should be able to tell you about this. The overpass is under evaluation. That’s all we know for now.”

MDOT is planning an inspection of the bridge over the freeway, MSP said.

State police, who could not be reached Sunday afternoon for further questions, said further updates will be issued as information becomes available.

The Ingham County Sheriff’s Department, Northeast Ingham Emergency Services Authority, Stockbridge Area Emergency Services Authority and the Dansville, Delhi and Meridian Township fire departments assisted.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.