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Crashes pile up along I-196 in Ottawa County, cause heavy delays

Posted at 2:37 PM, Jan 12, 2016
and last updated 2016-01-12 14:37:41-05

OTTAWA COUNTY, Mich. - Several crashes in white-out conditions caused several problems along I-196 Tuesday. Eastbound I-196 was closed from Adams Street to Byron Road due to a crash, according to the Michigan Department of Transportation.

The closure caused heavy traffic and slowdowns as the winter blast took aim on Ottawa County. The stretch of highway reopened around 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday.

Veronica Pettigrew was traveling home to Kentwood from work in Benton Harbor when she hit the heavy traffic on eastbound I-196.

"I just thank God I wasn’t in a ditch and I was moving....it was so icy," said Pettigrew.

It was a very slow commute as it took her around an hour to travel 3 miles.

"My biggest concern was when they had me get off the exit, how am I going to get home," Pettigrew said.

Eastbound I-196 wasn't the only spot with pileups and delays. Parts of westbound I-196 in Ottawa County were closed for a couple of hours as well.

The Holland Department of Public Safety said that there was a multi-vehicle crash on westbound I-196 at the M-40 exit. Westbound I-196 was closed between Adams Street and M-40 until a little before 6 p.m.

According to Holland Department of Public Safety, no injuries were reported.

Both eastbound and westbound I-196 near Adams Street in Ottawa county have since re-opened.