Michigan truck crash underscores dangers of winter storms snarling roadways
BELLEVILLE, Mich. (WXYZ) — Dangerous winter weather in southeast Michigan led to major travel disruptions on Monday, including heavy slowdowns and a chain-reaction crash involving more than 50 vehicles on northbound I-75.
Officials also shut down a major stretch of highway after a tractor-trailer crashed through an overpass and exploded on impact, underscoring how quickly winter conditions can turn routine runs into high-risk situations.
For professional drivers, the incidents highlight a familiar winter reality: when roads are slick and visibility or traction drops, traffic bunches up, stopping distances grow, and even small speed differences can trigger multi-vehicle collisions.
The situation in Belleville is a reminder that winter storms don’t just slow freight movement — they can close key corridors without warning, tie up equipment for hours, and create dangerous scenes for anyone caught in the backup.
- Where: Northbound I-75 in southeast Michigan, near Belleville
- What happened: A chain-reaction crash involving more than 50 vehicles, and a separate tractor-trailer crash through an overpass with an explosion on impact
- Why it matters: Winter conditions can rapidly overwhelm traffic flow and increase the consequences of any loss of control or sudden stop