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Eastbound I-96 reopens after fatal multi-vehicle crash

Posted at 3:18 PM, May 18, 2019
and last updated 2019-05-18 15:19:23-04

POLKTON TOWNSHIP, Mich. — A 62-year-old West Olive man was killed in a five-vehicle crash on I-96 in Ottawa County  Saturday.

The crash happened at 12:48 p.m. on eastbound I-96 near the 18 mile marker in Polkton Township, near Coopersville.

Authorities say a Mercedes was going east on the highway when he encountered slow traffic that was backed up due to construction. The driver attempted to avoid the backup, but lost control and struck a Lexus that was stopped in traffic.

The vehicle was pushed into an SUV, which was pushed into two more vehicles.

A 62-year-old man driving the Lexus was pronounced dead at the scene.

The 23-year-old man driving the Mercedes was transported by Aeromed to Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids where he was listed in critical condition.

A 60-year-old woman who was a passenger in the Lexus was taken to Butterworth Hospital where she was listed in critical condition.

All three were wearing seat belts at the time of the collision.

The other three drivers were not injured.

I-96 was closed for several hours after the crash, but reopened around 4:40 p.m.