Hudsonville, MI (April 30, 2026) – A massive pileup involving more than 100 vehicles, including up to 40 semi-trucks, shut down Interstate 196 in both directions between Hudsonville and Zeeland for over seven hours on Monday, April 27.
The first crashes were reported at around 10:19 a.m. Twelve people were hurt, though no fatalities were confirmed. Blowing snow and near-whiteout conditions made the highway extremely dangerous, with drivers reporting they could barely see the vehicles ahead of them even at reduced speeds.
Pedro Mata Jr., one of the drivers caught in the pileup, told reporters he was traveling at 20 to 25 mph when the chain of crashes began. He managed to stop his pickup safely but moved into the median to avoid being struck from behind. He described hearing a series of loud impacts from vehicles behind him that he could not see through the snow.
Buses from a nearby high school and a local transit service transported stranded drivers to a shelter at Hudsonville High School. Drivers still on the highway were advised to remain in their vehicles until buses could reach them. The roadway fully reopened after emergency units cleared the scene.
Authorities continue to investigate the crash, and more details will be released as soon as they become available. Our thoughts are with everyone hurt in this incident as they recover.
How Does Lake-Effect Snow Create Dangerous Highway Conditions in Michigan?
Lake-effect snow is a weather pattern unique to areas near the Great Lakes, and Michigan is one of the states most frequently affected by it. When cold air moves over the warmer water of Lake Michigan, it picks up moisture and dumps heavy, localized snow on communities downwind. This type of snowfall can be intense and fast-moving, sometimes producing several inches of accumulation in a short period.
What makes lake-effect snow especially treacherous on highways is how quickly conditions can change. Visibility can drop from clear to near-zero within seconds as a snow band passes over the road. Combined with wind gusts that create blowing and drifting snow, even drivers moving cautiously can find themselves in dangerous situations with very little warning.
