Icy US-131 Crash in Grand Rapids Claims Seven Vehicles Including Life EMS Ambulance
A seven-vehicle pileup on icy US-131 in Grand Rapids Saturday morning injured multiple people and struck a stopped Life EMS ambulance, closing the freeway for over an hour while state police investigated.
Multiple Vehicle Pileup on Slick Freeway Leaves Several Injured, Takes Over an Hour to Clear
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Multiple people were hurt after a chain-reaction crash involving seven vehicles on US-131 early Saturday morning, including a Life EMS ambulance that was stopped at the scene responding to another incident.
Michigan State Police said the crash occurred around 1:30 a.m. on southbound US-131, just south of Burton Street. Investigators believe a black BMW was traveling too fast for the icy road conditions, lost control and crashed, causing several other vehicles to also lose control and collide.
"Slow down and drive for the conditions," troopers said online. "Even a small increase in speed can make a big difference on icy roads."
A Life EMS ambulance with emergency lights activated was stopped at the scene when it was also struck. Multiple people were injured, but state police believe there were no life-threatening injuries.
Road Conditions and Response Time
The crash closed the freeway to traffic for about an hour and a half while first responders worked to clear the scene. Michigan State Police are reminding drivers to exercise extra caution on slick roads during this period of hazardous winter weather.
The MSP Grand Rapids Post responded to the incident and conducted the preliminary investigation. Troopers are still investigating the full circumstances surrounding the crash, but the initial report points to speed being a major factor given the road ice.
Community Impact
The incident highlights the dangers drivers face during Michigan's winter weather season. US-131 is a major commuter route through Kent County, and the crash temporarily disrupted traffic in the Grand Rapids area.
The damaged ambulance and multiple vehicles involved in the pileup required significant time to remove from the roadway. First responders were able to clear the scene and reopen the freeway after working for 90 minutes.
State police are urging all motorists to adjust their speed and following distance according to current road conditions, especially as more severe weather could be expected in the coming days.
What to Know
- Time of crash: Around 1:30 a.m. Saturday
- Location: Southbound US-131, just south of Burton Street in Grand Rapids
- Vehicles involved: Seven total, including a Life EMS ambulance
- Injuries: Multiple people hurt, but no life-threatening injuries reported
- Road closure: Approximately 1.5 hours to clear the scene
- Investigation status: Ongoing by Michigan State Police
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