Wintry Weather Leads to 100-Vehicle Pileup on Interstate in Michigan

The New York Times • January 19, 2026 • nation

Key Points:

Over 100 vehicles were involved in a massive chain-reaction pileup on Interstate 196 in Michigan due to treacherous lake-effect snow conditions, resulting in numerous injuries but no fatalities.
The crash occurred around 10:20 a.m. and led to the closure of the highway in both directions between Hudsonville and Zeeland, with emergency crews working to clear about three dozen jackknifed semitrailer trucks.
Stranded motorists were transported by buses to Hudsonville High School, where some arranged for pickups, as visibility remained poor due to blowing snow from a winter storm system.
The National Weather Service warned of persistent heavy lake-effect snow and whiteout conditions in the Great Lakes region, complicating travel further.