Massive Pileup Crash Involving 123 Vehicles, Truck Hauling Fireworks Shuts Down I-94 [VIDEO]
KALAMAZOO (WWJ) - A stretch of I-94 between Kalamazoo and Battle Creek is shut down in both directions due to a massive pileup accident involving 123 cars and trucks — including one hauling fireworks.
Police said a majority of those vehicles were piled up in the westbound lanes, with more than 30 in the eastbound lanes.
According to Michigan State Police Lt. Rick Pazder, one person died -- believed to be a truck driver from Ottawa, Canada, and there were dozens of injuries.
Pazder said dozens of semi-trucks were involved, including one carrying fireworks, which ignited.
Multiple vehicles were on fire.
Police ordered a 3-mile evacuation radius around the crash because of burning hazardous materials. The order was lifted before 2 p.m., with authorities urging people within a mile of the scene to stay in their homes.
The crash happened between mile markers 92 and 88 in the eastbound lanes of traffic, but both directions of I-94 have been shut down. The freeway is closed between mile markers 85, the Galesburg exit, and 92, M-37/Mercury Dr. Multiple fire departments are on scene. That's near the Kalamazoo-Calhoun County line.
Michigan State Police Lt. Rick Pazder says dozens of semi-trucks were involved, including one carrying fireworks, which ignited
Multiple vehicles were on fire.
Pazder said police used buses to get unhurt motorists off the freeway to warming centers.
WWJ spoke live with Aaron Dimick with CBS affiliate WWMT News Channel 3, reporting from one of those centers.
"I'm at an elementary school just outside Kalamazoo where victims are being taken, waiting for loved ones to pick them up," Dimick said. "Busloads of people have been brought in here from the crash site — their cars crushed in the chaos."
"One thing I keep hearing is that they're lucky to be alive," he added.
"Cars were swerving, there was no traction at all," one driver told WWJ reporter Jon Hewett. "All I did was I put it (his truck) into the side of the ditch thinking it was the safest place to be. Unfortunately, I got to see a lot of cars hit at very high speeds."
Over 150 residents and driver were evacuated to a makeshift response center at a nearby school.
"There was a big oil tank, we were very worried about if something happened, if it would blow up," another driver said. "We were trying to get out, but again there was another trailer coming at us. The doors were locked and wouldn't open. Fortunately there was a door window that had broken."
Vicki Eichstaedt with the Kalamazoo County Red Cross said that the number one priority was to make sure everyone was safe.
"What we did was respond to people who need to get off a very cold highway and get them warmed up, keep them safe and out of harm's way," Eichstaedt said.
Meantime, police said it's not known what exactly caused the chain-reaction accident, but MSP Inspector Tracey McAndrew with the Paw Paw post has some ideas.
"I can tell you we're experiencing significant weather issues," McAndrew said. "Lots of blowing snow, icy conditions and so forth that may have contributed to this crash."
Police earlier estimated as many as 150 vehicles were involved in the crash.
I-94 in eastern Kalamazoo County was expected be shut down in both directions until sometime after midnight.
For the latest from the roads, stay with WWJ Newsradio 950 during Traffic and Weather on the 8s, 24-hours a day. Check for recent incidents now on the CBS Detroit Traffic Page.
