A massive chain-reaction pileup involving more than 100 vehicles snarled Interstate 196 near Zeeland on Monday morning, January 19, leaving several people injured and forcing a lengthy closure of the highway amid hazardous winter conditions.
The crash — reported at about 10:19 a.m. took place in white-out snowstorm conditions near the 64th Avenue area of Zeeland Township, near Holland. Police and state troopers say the slippery roads and near-zero visibility caused vehicles to slide into one another in a devastating chain of collisions affecting cars, SUVs and at least 30 to 40 semi-trucks.
Authorities responded to numerous reports of crashes, slide-offs and jack-knifed semitrailers strewn across the interstate. The pileup quickly grew to involve roughly 100 vehicles as drivers lost control in the storm, resulting in a chaotic scene that completely stopped traffic in both directions between the Hudsonville and Zeeland exits.
Emergency crews — including local fire departments, ambulance services, Michigan State Police, Zeeland police and the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office — worked for hours to clear the wreckage, assist the injured and manage traffic. Snow removal equipment and even snowmobiles were used to reach stranded motorists in parts of the crash site that were difficult to access.
Officials confirmed that at least nine to twelve people were injured, though no fatalities have been reported at this time. Those with injuries were transported to nearby hospitals, and others who were unhurt were taken off the highway for safety.
To assist stranded drivers, buses from Hudsonville Public Schools and MAX Transit were used to transport people from the scene to Hudsonville High School, where they could find shelter and arrange pickup by family or friends. Authorities encouraged those stuck at the scene to stay in their vehicles until help arrived and to avoid the area if possible.
The National Weather Service had issued winter weather warnings and advisories for West Michigan as the storm brought heavy snowfall, strong winds and dangerously low visibility. Officials stressed that the white-out conditions were a significant factor in the scale of the pileup, urging drivers across the region to avoid non-essential travel until roads improve.
Both directions of I-196 reopened later Monday evening after crews worked through much of the day to remove wrecked vehicles and debris.
