4 dead, 17 injured after man driving semitruck crashes into vehicles in traffic near Lansing
(CBS DETROIT) — Four people are dead and 17 others are injured after a man driving a semitruck crashed into more than a dozen vehicles near Lansing, Michigan State Police say.
Traffic on I-96, around 30 minutes east of Lansing, had been temporarily stopped late Saturday night as utility crews with DTE Energy completed work on power lines in the area. A semitruck with a trailer was heading westbound around 11:45 p.m. and crashed into the stalled vehicles.
"It appears the driver of the semitruck did not see the backup and could not stop his vehicle in time," police said in a statement.
The impact caused the semitruck and several vehicles to catch fire. Police say around 15 vehicles were involved in the crash, including the semitruck.
Three Lansing residents died in the crash: A 20-year-old woman, a 43-year-old woman and a 47-year-old man, police say. A 29-year-old man from Carson City also died.
Authorities say 17 people suffered serious injuries in the crash and have been transported to nearby hospitals. The man driving the semitruck was also taken to the hospital
A spokesperson with DTE said no utility workers were injured.
Michigan State Police said westbound I-96 reopened Monday morning after an investigation into the crash and possible structural damage to the overpass. The eastbound lane will also be closed "indefinitely."
M-52 at the overpass was closed Sunday due to safety reasons, authorities say.
According to DTE, freeways are periodically shut down at times that are more convenient for motorists to complete utility work.
As of Monday afternoon, all but two of the 17 people injured in the crash have been released from the hospital. The semitruck driver remains hospitalized.
This is a developing story. Stay with CBS News Detroit for the latest.
