OTTAWA COUNTY, Mich (July 10, 2014) – Authorities are still investigating what led to a deadly head-on crash along Eastbound I-96 near Marne this evening.
As of 9:15 p.m., portions of the highway near the 22 Mile Marker remain closed after a minivan and a jeep collided head-on around 7:30 p.m. this evening.
A spokesperson for the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Department tells FOX17 a woman from Nunica in her 20s was traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes of the highway when her jeep collided with a minivan heading eastbound.
The driver of the minivan, a male, was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators say they’re still working to determine if anyone else was in the minivan at the time of the crash. The minivan was engulfed in flames shortly after the crash happened.
The woman from Nunica who was driving the jeep was flown to a nearby hospital by Aero Med with unknown injuries. Her condition is unknown at this time.
Deputies are still working to determine why the woman was traveling the wrong way on the highway, and where she entered traffic traveling the wrong way.
The Michigan Department of Transportation has released the following detour information while first responders remain on scene:
Eastbound I-96 traffic diverts at Exit #19 and turns right onto 48th Ave. Continue south, and then turn left onto Garfield St. Garfield St changes name to Berlin Fair Dr, continue east through Marne. Turn left onto Hayes St and continue east. Turn right onto M-11/Ironwood Dr. Turn left off of M-11/Ironwood Dr onto 8th Ave. Turn right onto the I-96 eastbound entrance ramp.
Look for live updates tonight on FOX17 News at 10 and 11.
