Deadly 193-car pileup on I-94 near Battle Creek, Michigan

One person was killed and 22 others injured in a fiery multi-vehicle pileup on snowy roads that involved 193 vehicles brought Interstate 94 near Battle Creek, Michigan, on January 9.

As of January 11, both sides of I-94 have reopened, according to Michigan State Police. Frozen equipment stalled the effort to reopen the interstate on January 10, the Associated Press reports. The problematic equipment was being used to remove acid from a tanker truck.

The accident happened at mile marker 90 between the Galesburg and Climax exits just after 10 a.m. ET on January 9.

Numbers for the vehicles in the pileup were varied because of the chaotic situation and confusing conditions.

Michigan State Police (MSP) now say 193 vehicles were involved, including dozens of semi-trucks. Lt. David Wood said that around 50 vehicles remained on the roadway on January 10.

MSP reports at least one semi was carrying fireworks. They also classified it as a “hazardous material situation” because of another truck carrying formic acid, which is mainly used as a preservative. 

The fireworks caught fire after the crash and many went off, piercing the air with explosive cracks. Two firefighters were taken to a hospital for evaluation after sustaining injuries from the explosions, the Battle Creek Enquirer reported.

After the crash, police asked that anyone within a 3-mile radius evacuate.

Although investigators haven’t said what might have caused the crash, the weather at the time of the wreck was terrible. According to weather.com meteorologist Linda Lam, temperatures sat at 16 F with gusty winds to make it feel like 0 outdoors. Snow was falling at the time.

At least one person was killed in the pileup. The victim was identified as 57-year-old truck driver Jean Larocque from Saint-Chrysostome, Quebec.

22 people were treated for injuries at area hospitals, the Battle Creek Enquirer reported.