90-Car Pileup In Michigan Leaves 1 Dead; Truck Loaded With Fireworks Explodes

By Chuck Sudo in News on Jan 9, 2015 6:15PM

Photo credit: John Rudolph/My Fox Detroit

Interstate 94 has been shut down in both directions in Kalamazoo County, Michigan after a massive car pileup involving up to dozens of cars left one person dead and police ordering a 3-mile evacuation radius because of burning hazardous materials on the scene.

The pileup occurred at 10:07 a.m. Eastern Time on the eastbound lanes of I-94 between Mile Marker 90 and 92 at the Kalamazoo/Calhoun County border. Michigan State Police said up to 90 vehicles were involved in the pileup, including 50 semis. One of those trucks was hauling 40,000 pounds of fireworks and caught fire. Thick black smoke could be seen for miles.

Photo credit: John Rudolph/My Fox Detroit

The scene was described as a "very chaotic situation" by state troopers, who indicated I-94 will be closed for the foreseeable future.