4 killed, 17 injured after semitruck crashes into vehicles stuck in traffic

LANSING, Mich. (WILX/Gray News) - Four people are dead and 17 others injured after a semitruck crashed into vehicles stuck in traffic late Saturday night.

The crash happened around 11:42 p.m. on I-96 in Ingham County, Michigan.

According to Michigan State Police, the westbound lanes of I-96 were shut down while crews strung power lines across the expressway. When police reopened the lanes, several vehicles were still stopped when a semitruck crashed into the stopped vehicles.

Police believe about 15 vehicles were involved in the crash.

According to authorities, the driver of the semitruck did not see that traffic was stopped and could not stop in time.

The impact of the crash caused the semitruck and numerous other vehicles involved to catch fire.

State police identified those killed in the crash as a 29-year-old man, a 20-year-old woman, a 43-year-old man and a 47-year-old man.

The 17 people who were injured were all taken to hospitals for serious injuries.

I-96 near M-52 is expected to be closed indefinitely, as crews with the Michigan Department of Transportation work to access the structural integrity of the overpass due to the fire.