Three people were killed in multiple accidents along US-131 in Allegan County Thursday, leaving the road completely closed for several hours for accident reconstruction experts to analyze exactly what happened.
Troopers from the Michigan State Police Wayland Post are investigating the multi-vehicle traffic crash that took place December 10th at approximately 12:50 pm on US 131, north of 116th Ave in Martin Township of Allegan County.
The crash investigated by State Police involved two semi-tractor trailers and one pick-up truck. Preliminary investigations revealed the driver of the first semi-tractor trailer was slowing for a traffic back up due to a separate fatal crash that was being investigated by the Allegan County Sheriff’s Department.
The driver of the pick-up was behind the first semi-tractor trailer and had also begun to slow due to the traffic back up. The driver of the second semi-tractor trailer was behind the pick-up but did not notice the pick-up slowing or that traffic was backed up. As a result, the second semi-tractor trailer rear-ended the pick-up and subsequently pushed it into the first semi-tractor trailer. The pick-up and the second semi-tractor trailer went off the roadway and collided into a ditch.
All three drivers were treated by EMS on scene, and two died at the scene with a third driver being transported to Metro Health Hospital for further treatment. Identities and hometowns of the drivers were unavailable at the time of the police report.
Troopers were assisted at the scene by the Martin Township Fire Department, Wayland EMS and the Michigan Department of Transportation.
The initial accident happened when a driver working on a disabled vehicle near the highway exit for Shelbyville and Gun Lake was struck and killed by a semi which ended up rolling over into a ditch.
Traffic was being diverted onto 116th Avenue, and while traffic was backed up the four vehicle crash at the 54 mile marker resulted in still further traffic delays for several hours while clean up and reconstruction continued. All of the incidents remain under investigation.
