3 Lansing residents among 4 killed in I-96 crash near Webberville

This story was updated to correct an inaccuracy from Michigan State Police and to add new information and photos and video.

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

Two Lansing women, 20 and 43 years of age, and a 47-year-old Lansing man died in the crash that seriously injured 17 others, MSP said in a Sunday afternoon update. The unnamed Lansing victims were in a Chevy Trax and were related. The fourth person who died 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 freeway because of a power line installation near the M-52 overpass, according to MSP. The freeway had been closed earlier in the evening so DTE Energy crews could install power lines across it.

“The troopers had just completed a shutdown on westbound I-96 at M-52 on the overpass and had just reopened the expressway,” MSP said in a social media post. “At the time numerous vehicles were stopped on the expressway. A semi truck with trailer was westbound on the expressway coming up on the stopped traffic. It appears the driver of the semi-truck did not see the backup and could not 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 involved vehicles to catch fire.

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

The injured truck driver, MSP said Sunday, was taken to University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor for treatment. Police said the truck driver’s age and hometown remained unknown. Other crash victims were taken to University of Michigan Sparrow and McLaren hospitals in Lansing, police said.

“Westbound I-96 at M-52 will be closed for an indefinite period,” MSP said Sunday afternoon. “Additionally, north and southbound M-52 is closed at the I-96 overpass until the bridge is inspected.”

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

She directed the State Journal to MDOT as to whether there were any signs or billboards notifying drivers of the work or traffic backups. She emphasized that DTE Energy cannot put up any traffic signs or billboards on MDOT roads, such as I-96.

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

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

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

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

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: 3 Lansing residents among 4 killed in I-96 crash near Webberville