Icy conditions in the North created hazardous driving conditions, a common occurrence this time of year. However, Friday morning Highway I-94 in Michigan witnessed a horrific pileup of around 200 cars and trucks that left both sides of the interstate shut down for approximately 24 hours.
According to CNN, part of the pileup included one truck carrying fireworks and another carrying formic acid. Jean Larocque, a Canadian truck driver was killed when the truck carrying fireworks caught fire with an explosion that also set the nearby cars on fire. Formic acid, though not deadly, is a nausea inducing irritant that when it spilled from the truck actually damaged the road.
Amazingly, most of the people involved in the pileup were not injured. State Police Lieutenant Rick Padzer explained that they "took buses to the scene to get people out of there and to get them out of the cold."
USA Today added that nearby residents were requested to remain indoors to avoid smoke inhalation from the fire that continued to burn for hours after the initial explosion.
The interstate was still closed as of 2:00 PM. It was reported by The Detroit News earlier today that Lt. David Wood of the Michigan State Police said, "There have been a lot of estimations over the last 24-hours. I can say we hope to have it open between 5 and 5:30 p.m. today, hopeful before dark."
Many at the scene took pictures and videos, some of which can be seen below. This devastating incident should remind us to drive with caution in such hazardous conditions.
Image via Twitter by Jessica Wheeler, WWMT morning news reporter