I-96 closed in Ingham County after crash that kills 4 people and seriously injures 17

The crash occurred about 11:42 p.m., shortly after state police reopened the westbound lanes of the highway due to a power line installation near the M-52 overpass, MSP said. The highway was closed earlier in the evening so Consumers Energy crews could install power lines across it.

“Troopers had just completed the closure of westbound I-96 at M-52 at the overpass and had just reopened the highway,” MSP said in a social media post. “At that time, there were countless vehicles stopped on the highway. A semi-truck with a trailer was traveling west on the highway and encountered stopped traffic. It appears the truck driver did not see the backup 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 burst into flames.

An I-96 crash near Webberville kills four people and seriously injures 17

Four people were killed and 17 others seriously injured after a semi hit. More than a dozen vehicles stopped late Saturday night for a traffic backup on westbound Interstate 96 near Webberville, Michigan State Police said. The impact caused the semi and many of the vehicles involved to catch fire.

Thanks to Joe Bogue of Owosso

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

Victims of the crash were taken to University of Michigan Sparrow and McLaren hospitals in Lansing, police said.

I-96 is expected to remain closed indefinitely to both westbound and eastbound vehicles for the crash investigation and to investigate possible damage to the M-52 overpass bridge from the fire resulting from the crash.

The Michigan Department of Transportation is planning an inspection of the highway bridge, MSP said.

State police said further updates will be issued as information becomes available.

This is a development story. Check back for updates.