LANSING – Authorities closed Interstate 96 near Portland late Saturday after a pileup involving 50 to 100 vehicles in the eastbound lanes, according to a Twitter message from the Michigan State Police First District.
Michigan State Police officials said they closed I-96 near Grand River Avenue in Portland just after 5 p.m. Saturday after the crash. There were whiteout conditions before the accumulation, but the sun came out and the sky cleared by the time they released a picture showing the debris.
Injuries were reported, Michigan State Police said, but the severity of the injuries was unknown.
Video obtained by the State Journal shows multiple cars colliding with the cable barrier that separates the eastbound and westbound lanes.
Conditions deteriorated rapidly and visibility became poor just before the pileup. Some drivers crashed into guardrails, while others failed to stop and crashed into cars ahead.
One man was seen leaving his car to clear the strewn debris, allowing the drivers to move forward and get out of the pileup.
Travelers are asked to avoid the area.
The Portland Fire Department said on its Facebook page that the pileup happened between mile markers 72 and 77.
Check for updates.