Snow squalls, white-out conditions lead to highway closures, crashes

Feb. 16--A sudden series of snow squalls has closed numerous highways around metro Detroit and led to several multi-vehicle crashes.

Conditions have deteriorated rapidly as snow squalls have moved in from the west.

There were no immediate reports of fatalities, although one crash alert from westbound I-96 at Wixom Road listed a victim being taken for treatment by helicopter after that person was ejected from a vehicle.

One crash on northbound I-75 just south of Monroe involved 44 vehicles, according to Michigan State Police Lt. Troy Allen.

In addition, a number of wrecks on U.S. 23 near I-75 in Genesee County involved close to 20 vehicles, Allen said.

Those last I-75 and U.S. 23 accidents had been cleared shortly before 4 p.m. when the Michigan Department of Transportation was still listing eight active crashes in the metro Detroit area, said Allen, who encouraged drivers to slow down in white-out conditions.

Among the closures because of crashes:

-- Southbound I-75 at Eureka (caused by a multi-vehicle crash at West Road)

-- Northbound Southfield Freeway at Oakwood

-- Southbound I-75 at the Lodge

-- Eastbound I-94 at Greenfield

"At this point in time, freeway travel really needs to be done with a great amount of caution," said Michigan Department of Transportation spokesman Rob Morosi. "If you have to go out, just allow yourself extra time."

Matt Mosteiko, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service's White Lake Township office, said a snow squall causing brief white-out conditions was headed toward downtown Detroit along I-96 shortly after 3 p.m. An earlier snow squall moved into Ontario.

Areas north of the city are experiencing heavy bursts of snow as well.

"Macomb County's going to get hit pretty hard with this snow squall," Mosteiko said of a system that was moving through Oakland County.

At times, the snow has fallen at a rate of 1/2 of an inch to 3/4 of inch per hour.

"That's pretty significant rate," Mosteiko said.

Oakland and Macomb counties are projected to see an inch and a half and Wayne County could see an inch of snow by 7 p.m.

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