At a Glance
- Up to 100 vehicles crashed on I-196 near Zeeland Township, Michigan, around noon Monday
- Buses from Hudsonville Public Schools transported stranded drivers to Hudsonville High School
- The National Weather Service had warned of whiteouts and lake-effect snow bands
- Injuries are reported, but no fatalities have been confirmed
- Why it matters: Hazardous winter conditions can turn major highways into danger zones within minutes, trapping motorists and overwhelming emergency crews
A massive pileup involving as many as 100 cars shut down a western Michigan highway Monday, stranding drivers amid hazardous winter weather and prompting emergency crews to use school buses to evacuate people from the scene.
The Ottawa County Sheriff’s office reported the multi-vehicle crash just before noon on I-196 near 64th Avenue in Zeeland Township, located about 25 miles southwest of Grand Rapids. The collision forced the closure of I-196 in both directions between Hudsonville and Zeeland.
Crash Scene Chaos
Images from the scene showed several semis in ditches and crashed vehicles scattered across snowy roadways. News Of Fort Worth affiliate station WOOD-TV reported the crash involved “several jack-knifed semi-trucks” among the nearly 100 vehicles involved.
Buses from Hudsonville Public Schools were dispatched to transport stranded drivers from the crash site to Hudsonville High School, according to the sheriff’s office. Officials urged motorists still trapped on the highway to remain inside their vehicles until buses arrived.
“Motorists currently stranded on scene should remain inside their vehicles until they are able to board a bus for transportation to Hudsonville High School,” the department stated. “We are asking the public to avoid driving today, especially in this area, due to hazardous conditions.”
Weather Warnings Ignored
The National Weather Service had issued urgent travel warnings Monday morning for areas near and west of US 131, specifically highlighting I-196 as extremely dangerous. The agency reported on X that “whiteouts, slide offs and multi car accidents have been observed on major roads via MDOT webcams as lake effect snow bands and blowing snow are occurring.”
Snowfall rates reached up to a half-inch per hour during the storm, creating near-zero visibility conditions that contributed to the chain-reaction crash.
Emergency Response
WOOD-TV reported “numerous” injuries at the scene, though officials confirmed none were known to be fatal at the time. The scale of the crash required coordination between multiple emergency agencies and school district transportation services.
The sheriff’s office emphasized that the extreme weather made the highway impassable, not just at the crash site but throughout the region. Their warning to avoid driving applied broadly to the area, not just the immediate vicinity of the pileup.
Travel Impact
The I-196 closure between Hudsonville and Zeeland created significant traffic disruptions in western Michigan. The highway serves as a major route connecting Grand Rapids to Lake Michigan communities, and its closure during winter weather conditions stranded both local commuters and through travelers.
The use of school buses to evacuate stranded drivers highlights the severity of the situation, as emergency crews needed to move people away from the hazardous highway conditions while managing the crash investigation and vehicle removal.
This developing story continues to unfold as crews work to clear the highway and assess the full extent of injuries and damage from the massive pileup.
Key Takeaways
- Winter weather created whiteout conditions that led to a 100-vehicle pileup on I-196
- School buses were repurposed as emergency evacuation vehicles for stranded motorists
- The National Weather Service had specifically warned against travel on I-196 hours before the crash
- No fatalities have been reported despite the massive scale of the collision
