Huge accident on my route home

[Tarryk]

Lansing Area, MI

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1/12/05 4:20pm Update: Large Pileup on 96

Police say at least 70 cars were involved in accidents between exits 110 (Okemos Road) and 117 (Williamston Road) on I-96. Both east and westbound lanes are closed. Multiple injuries and at least two deaths reported. They are asking everyone to please avoid the area. We'll have more information as it becomes available.

Van reportedly rear-ended semi and cars continued to pile up. Fog blamed as factor in accident. Van driver reportedly didn't see semi in front of him.
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Ahem.

Van driver reportedly didn't see semi in front of him.

Word to the wise. Friends don't let friends drive in michigan, because those who do are complete freakin' morons and cause fatalities because they don't look in the direction they're CURRENTLY DRIVING.

[Lauri]

Oh geez.

[Tarryk]

Further word in: having figured the exact time it happened and realizing it was right when I got back from lunch. I do recall looking out the window when I got in and seeing nothing but pure white. I thought everything was covered with snow until I realized it wasn't -- it was just pure white fog, and it had hit instantly.

Zero visibility. If there were a semi coming at the building, I wouldn't have seen it til it was already through the window.

So at least a reason beyond bad driving is the result of this bad chain reaction.

[Aameul]

Yeah, the fog was the big cause of the accident. Also, from what I understand, it happened just around a bend of the expressway so it would've been difficult to see in the best of circumstances, much less with the terrible visibility this afternoon.

[Ms.Ice]

*reminds her of fog back home and pileups in LA*

[Tristalyn]

ugh I've had to drive in fog like that before.. certainly not safe

[Xtrophic]

No, you pretty much have to stop. Only problem is that you have atleast 50 stupid ass drivers behind you who don't realise stopping is the thing to do. So even if you stop, someone is bound to come smashing into you from the rear. It's sad that there are too many drivers out there with no real sense on how to drive safely and when to slow down due to weather and stuff.
I've driven in fog at night, and that is no fun at all. First you have the darkness for which you need stronger headlights. On the other hand you have the fog which becomes to thick to see through, especially if illuminated by your headlights. Fortunatly I was lucky enough to not have to deal with stupid ass drivers, but it took long enough to get where I was going since I had to drive like 10-20km/h, on a road that's usually 90km/h

[Tarryk]

The count doubled over the night.

1/13/05- At least 2 people are dead and at least 37 others are hurt after multiple pileups involving about 200 vehicles in thick fog on Interstate 96 east of Lansing. Ingham County sheriff's officials say 14-year-old Douglas J. Baker of Holt was killed when the SUV he was riding in and about 10 other vehicles crashed in the westbound lanes about 3pm Wednesday near Williamston.

The other fatal crash happened within about 30 minutes, when an eastbound vehicle driven by an adult male hit a semi truck from behind. State police identified the victim as Jason Eldridge of Owosso, but didn't have his age.

The sheriff's department says a total of 114 vehicles were involved in crashes in the eastbound lanes, while 80 to 100 vehicles were involved in westbound crashes. The rest of the vehicles were involved in minor collisions involving 2 or 3 at a time.

Dense fog formed as afternoon temperatures in the Lansing area surpassed 50 degrees, reducing visibility to one-quarter mile.

[Demongirl]

yeah... i'll definately say the fog was thick. i watched the fog thicken in amazement yesterday to that "is it snowing?" point. It truly was hell to drive in.

[Highlander]

It was pretty foggy here in NJ too... Nothing compared to that tho

[Aarric]

Zero visibility. If there were a semi coming at the building, I wouldn't have seen it til it was already through the window.

So at least a reason beyond bad driving is the result of this bad chain reaction.

Yeah I know what you mean, my route is opposite of yours though, but I still had to deal with not see more than a few feet in front of the windshield. Good times.