Four Dead, 17 Injured in Fiery multi-vehicle accident on I-96 in Ingham County

In a devastating multi-vehicle accident on westbound I-96 in Ingham County, four people lost their lives, and 17 others sustained injuries late Saturday night. The tragic crash occurred near M-52 in Webberville around 11:42 p.m., involving approximately 15 vehicles, many of which caught fire in the aftermath of the collision.

According to Michigan State Police (MSP), the pile-up happened shortly after a temporary road closure to allow DTE Energy crews to work on power lines overhead. When the highway was reopened, some vehicles remained stationary on the expressway. As traffic resumed, a semi-truck hauling a trailer was unable to stop in time, slamming into the vehicles that were stopped or moving slowly. This led to a catastrophic chain reaction, igniting the semi-truck and several other vehicles upon impact.

The fatalities included a 29-year-old man from Carson City, identified as the driver of a Ford F-150 pickup truck, and three residents of Lansing: a 20-year-old woman, a 43-year-old woman, and 47-year-old Brandon Glasscoe. Tragically, three of the four fatalities were from a single vehicle, while the driver of the Ford pickup was reportedly ejected and died at the scene.

Emergency response teams quickly arrived, and 17 injured individuals were transported to University of Michigan Health-Sparrow and McLaren Hospitals in Lansing, receiving treatment for a range of serious injuries. The semi-truck driver also sustained severe burns and was among those hospitalized.

The fire and extensive wreckage led to prolonged closures on I-96 and M-52 as Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) crews evaluated the overpass’s structural integrity and cleared the scene. MSP reported that the highway remained closed for nearly 24 hours while emergency and clean-up crews worked diligently to ensure the area was safe for travel. After extensive efforts, the road was finally reopened on Monday morning, allowing traffic to flow again through the region.

As the community mourns the loss of life and the magnitude of the tragedy, MSP has initiated a thorough investigation to understand the contributing factors of this horrific accident.