Go Back
  • For Business
  • |
  • Warnings
  • Data Suite
  • Newsletters
  • Advertising
  • Superior Accuracy™
Tropical trouble could stir near Southeast beaches around 4th of July. Get details Chevron right
Severe storms, flash flooding to bring July Fourth holiday travel hassles. Get details Chevron right

Columbus, OH

71°F
Location Chevron down
Location News Videos
Use Current Location
Recent

Columbus

Ohio

71°
No results found.
Try searching for a city, zip code or point of interest.
settings
Columbus, OH Weather
Today WinterCast Local {stormName} Tracker Hourly Daily Radar MinuteCast Monthly Air Quality Health & Activities

Around the Globe

Hurricane Tracker

Severe Weather

Radar & Maps

News

News & Features

Astronomy

Business

Climate

Health

Recreation

Sports

Travel

For Business

Warnings

Data Suite

Newsletters

Advertising

Superior Accuracy™

Video

Winter Center

AccuWeather Early Hurricane Center Top Stories Trending Today Astronomy Heat Climate Health Recreation In Memoriam Case Studies Blogs & Webinars

News / Weather News

Deadly pileup crash occurs amid heavy lake-effect snow in central Michigan

By Kevin Byrne, AccuWeather senior editor

Published Dec 9, 2016 6:58 PM EDT | Updated Jul 1, 2019 5:26 PM EDT

Copied
Autoplay Seasonal Playlist (for top of stories)

Three people were killed after a pileup, involving up to 40 vehicles, snarled traffic in snowy central Michigan Thursday morning, the Detroit Free Press reported.

There are also reports of several injuries.

The accident occurred on westbound Interstate 96 near the town of Fowlerville, located in Livingston County, which is about 45 minutes east of the capital of Lansing.

According to local authorities, the crash occurred when heavy snow began falling on the roadways, leading to whiteout conditions. The Livingston County Sheriff's office told the Detroit Free-Press that the falling snow melted then froze, leading to slippery travel.

pileup120816

This image shows the scene of a pileup involving up to 40 cars near Fowlerville, Michigan, on Thursday, Dec. 8.

The crash occurred around 9:30 a.m. EST.

“A burst of snow affected the interstate around or just before the time of the wreck,” AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dave Samuhel said. "Temperatures were around 25-26 F at the time."

RELATED:

Great Lakes region interactive radar
AccuWeather Winter Weather Center
Disruptive snow to sweep over midwestern US this weekend

The visibility was reported to be under a quarter of a mile at the nearby town of Howell, at 10 a.m. EST, Samuhel added.

Multiple crashes were reported in Livingston County, according to the Michigan Department of Transportation. A stretch of I-96 westbound near the Fowlerville exit was closed for much of the day before reopening Thursday night.

https://twitter.com/michpoligal/status/806871838555013120

While flurries will continue to fly around the area of the crash, there could be a brief heavier snow shower through Thursday evening, Samuhel said.

Bands of lake-effect snow will continue to pose travel hazards into Friday across parts of the Great Lakes and Northeast.

According to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski, the I-90 corridor will be the most affected from Indiana to Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York State.

“Other major highways where motorists could face highly variable weather conditions include portions of I-75, I-79, I-80, I-81, I-96 and I-196,” he said.

Several other major pileups were reported in the Northeast on Thursday.

In Ohio, a portion of I-90, east of Cleveland, was shut down for more than 14 hours after a 50-vehicle pileup occurred Thursday afternoon. Twenty people were injured and the highway was reopened Friday morning, according to the Associated Press.

Another accident that was blamed on lake-effect snow occurred in northwest Pennsylvania. Up to 50 or 60 vehicles were involved in the accident early Thursday on I-90 in Erie County. At least 15 people were hurt in the crash.

Report a Typo

Weather News

Recreation

Boulders narrowly miss swimmers at popular Utah waterfall

Jun. 27, 2025
Weather Forecasts

July 4 Forecast: Thunderstorms to focus over Upper Midwest and Florida

Jul. 1, 2025
Weather News

Girl, 8, rescued after 7 hours in flooded sewer in China

Jun. 27, 2025
Show more Show less Chevron down

Topics

AccuWeather Early

Hurricane Center

Top Stories

Trending Today

Astronomy

Heat

Climate

Health

Recreation

In Memoriam

Case Studies

Blogs & Webinars

Top Stories

Severe Weather

Severe storms, flash flooding to bring July 4 holiday travel hassles

7 hours ago

Weather News

Storm chaser stages whirlwind proposal with real tornado

9 hours ago

Weather News

Tropical trouble could stir near Southeast beaches around 4th of July

7 hours ago

Astronomy

July offers rare meteor shower combo, stunning views of the Milky Way

5 days ago

Weather News

Flights cancelled as Atlanta airport recovers from severe weather

2 days ago

More Stories

Featured Stories

Travel

Fourth of July gas hasn’t been this cheap since 2021

11 hours ago

Recreation

Two people rescued after going overboard on Disney cruise ship

11 hours ago

Weather News

Fossil reveals ‘Last of Us’-type fungus likely lived with dinosaurs

6 days ago

Health

'Inverse' vaccines may hold key to challenge autoimmune diseases

1 day ago

Weather News

World’s most liveable city for 2025 revealed

1 week ago

AccuWeather Weather News Deadly pileup crash occurs amid heavy lake-effect snow in central Michigan
Company
Proven Superior Accuracy About AccuWeather Digital Advertising Careers Press Contact Us
Products & Services
For Business For Partners For Advertising AccuWeather APIs AccuWeather Connect RealFeel® and RealFeel Shade™ Personal Weather Stations
Apps & Downloads
iPhone App Android App See all Apps & Downloads
Subscription Services
AccuWeather Premium AccuWeather Professional
More
AccuWeather Ready Business Health Hurricane Leisure and Recreation Severe Weather Space and Astronomy Sports Travel Weather News Winter Center
Company
Proven Superior Accuracy About AccuWeather Digital Advertising Careers Press Contact Us
Products & Services
For Business For Partners For Advertising AccuWeather APIs AccuWeather Connect RealFeel® and RealFeel Shade™ Personal Weather Stations
Apps & Downloads
iPhone App Android App See all Apps & Downloads
Subscription Services
AccuWeather Premium AccuWeather Professional
More
AccuWeather Ready Business Health Hurricane Leisure and Recreation Severe Weather Space and Astronomy Sports Travel Weather News Winter Center
© 2025 AccuWeather, Inc. "AccuWeather" and sun design are registered trademarks of AccuWeather, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy | About Your Privacy Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information

...

...

...