ZEELAND TWP., MI (WHTC-AM/FM, Jan. 19, 2026) – One of the bigger multi-vehicle pileups in recent years along the Lakeshore occurred on Monday.
Ottawa County Central Dispatch first noted around 9 AM that eastbound I-196 was being blocked off at the Byron Road exit (exit 55) due to a jackknifed semi. About an hour later, there came multiple reports of numerous crashes and slide offs of other vehicles near the 64th Avenue overpass, compounding the situation.
By early afternoon, the vehicle count was estimated by sheriff’s deputies at over a hundred, and buses from both MAX Transit and Hudsonville Public Schools were dispatched to take stranded motorists from their disabled vehicles over to Hudsonville High School. Between nine and 12 injured persons needed to be transported to unnamed area hospitals for treatment, but there were no fatalities.
It took until nightfall before crews were able to remove all the disabled vehicles from the roadway and reopen the freeway in both directions between the Byron Road and 32nd Avenue exits. Adverse weather conditions, with snow and strong winds, is believed to have been a major factor in what led to this incident, which remains under investigation.
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