January 9, 2015

Massive U.S. 23 pileup: 2 in critical condition, freeway expected to be closed for hours

Source: MLIVE

Another massive Michigan pile-up in the snow early this afternoon.


"Two men were taken to the hospital in critical condition after a massive pileup on U.S. 23 south of Ann Arbor, officials said.

Both men needed to be extricated from their vehicles, according to Pittsfield Township Fire Chief.

Officials did not immediately have ages of the men. Both required extensive rescue efforts to be pulled from their vehicles.

One man was inside a car that was underneath a semi truck, Gleason said. The other man was in a separate semi truck. Crews also performed a complex rescue to free him, Gleason said.

There were at least seven semis involved and 20-plus cars in the pileup, according to officials. U.S. 23 was shut down between Willis and Plank roads and was expected to be well into Friday evening as crews clean up. There was a diesel gas spill crews were contending with, as well.

As of 2 p.m., rescue efforts had been completed. Gleason said two other people were taken to the hospital with minor injuries.

The crashes stretched at least an eighth of a mile long on U.S. 23.

One semi crash was so severe, the cab came apart from the chassis, Gleason said.

"It was a horrendous," he said. "I've never seen anything like that."

A semi that crashed with a couple cars at the beginning of the accidents is believed to have started a chain reaction, Gleason said.

Washtenaw County Dispatch confirmed the highway was closed in the southbound direction at 12:52 p.m.

Read more: http://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/index.ssf/2015/01/massive_us_23_pileup_2_in_crit.html#incart_river

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Another Michigan Massive Pile Up- this time on US-23 south of Ann Arbor, near Milan, Michigan.

Freeway closed.

Local reports are saying more than 50 cars and 7 semi-trucks tangled in this one, and that the highway may be closed for some time.



Update- both directions are now closed. Here is an updated link :

http://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/index.ssf/2015/01/massive_pileup_on_us_23_shuts.html#incart_related_stories