Three Lansing residents among four killed in crash on I-96 near Webberville

Lansing State Journal Staff
| Lansing Gazette

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

LEROY TWP. – Three Lansing residents were among four people killed after a semi crash. More than a dozen vehicles stopped late Saturday night for a traffic backup on westbound Interstate 96 near Webberville, Michigan State Police said.

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 related. The fourth person killed was a 29-year-old Carson City man driving a Ford F-150 pickup.

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 DTE Energy crews could install power lines across it.

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

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, Owosso

“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

Thanks to Joe Bogue of Owosso

MSP said early Sunday it believed “approximately” 15 vehicles, including the semi, 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. According to the police, the age and place of residence of the truck driver are unknown. Other crash victims were taken to University of Michigan Sparrow and McLaren hospitals in Lansing, police said.

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

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

She sent the State Journal to MDOT about whether there were any signs or billboards notifying drivers of the construction or traffic backups. She emphasized that DTE Energy is not allowed to place traffic signs or billboards on MDOT roadways, such as I-96.

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

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

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

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

This is a development story. Check back for updates.