Orange Township, MI – A multi-vehicle crash on Interstate 96 in Ionia County left one person dead and two others seriously injured Wednesday afternoon.
According to the Ionia County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded at approximately 4:44 p.m. yesterday to a four-vehicle collision on westbound I-96 near Sunfield Highway in Orange Township. Investigators said the crash occurred in a construction zone where traffic was slowing and merging into a single lane.
Authorities reported that a semi-tractor trailer struck an SUV, forcing it off the road before the semi continued forward and rear-ended another SUV. That second SUV was then pushed into the path of a second semi-tractor trailer and pinned between the two trucks.
Two individuals sustained serious injuries and were transported to Sparrow Hospital in Lansing. A third person was pronounced dead at the scene, deputies said. The victim’s identity has not yet been released pending notification of family.
The crash remains under investigation. Multiple agencies assisted at the scene, including Michigan State Police, Portland Police Department, Belding Police Department, Portland EMS, the Berlin-Orange Fire Department, Ionia County Central Dispatch, and Reed & Hoppes Towing.
Westbound I-96 traffic was slowed for several hours as crews worked to clear the scene and assist the injured. Officials have not released information about possible charges or citations.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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