Fatal Crash Backs Up Traffic On Westbound I-96 In Novi

NOVI (WWJ) - At least one person died, Tuesday afternoon, in a crash that had traffic backed up for hours along westbound I-96 in Novi.

Michigan State Police say a preliminary investigation showed a pickup truck left the roadway and struck a power line station at Taft near Novi Road.

It's not clear at this time if there may have been another vehicle involved, what caused the driver to veer off the freeway, or what else led up to the accident.

One may who witnessed the crash told WWJ Newsradio 950 that the pickup slammed into a utility pole so hard that the rear axle came off.

No information was immediately released about the victim or victims.

The right lane was closed to traffic for the duration of the investigation, with the crash also affecting the entrance ramp. Backups were reported from I-696/Orchard Lake Rd.

Motorists were asked to avoid the area.

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