Deadly 115-vehicle pileup on I-94 near Battle Creek, MI; evacuation orders issued

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Both directions of I-94 are closed west of Battle Creek and a shelter-in-place order is in effect due to two pileups including as many as 115 vehicles and one fatality, according to Michigan State Police Lt. Rick Pazder.

Michigan State Police currently have a one-mile radius shelter-in-place order from I-94 at the 90 mile marker, which is located near 44th Street in Charleston Township, as authorities believe all hazardous materials have burned off in a fire. A three-mile radius evacuation order that centered on the same location has been lifted.

Both directions of I-94 were shut down shortly after 10 a.m. between the Galesburg and Climax exits (exits 88 and 92) after pileups occurred in both the eastbound and westbound lanes.

© Kathryn Dennis

Michigan State Police told 24 Hour News that at least four semi-trucks and two cars are still on fire, including one truck that is carrying hazardous materials and another that is full of fireworks.

Initially, emergency responders believed around 90 vehicles were involved in the crashes. Police at the scene are still trying to determine the exact number of vehicles in each pileup.

Padzer said one fatality has been confirmed. All of those who were injured have been accounted for and moved from the crash scenes. Borgess Hospital says it is treating six patients who were injured in the crashes. A hospital spokesperson told 24 Hour News 8 that one of those patients is in serious condition and the five others are in fair condition.

Bronson Methodist Hospital is also treating four patients who are said to be in good condition and Bronson's facility in Battle Creek is treating six with minor injuries.

Police said the area will be closed for a while and are asking drivers to avoid the area.

Metro Transit's transportation director, Sean McBride, told 24 Hour News 8 that three buses were being sent to the scene of the crashes to help keep stranded passengers and emergency workers warm. They will also transport people to a location where they can find additional transportation if necessary. The Battle Creek Police Department sent a release saying displaced motorists will be taken to the Galesburg-Augusta Primary School.

In a separate incident, eastbound I-94 at Sprinkle Road in Kalamazoo is also closed due to a crash, according to the Michigan Department of Transportation.

In a third incident, westbound I-94 at M-37 (Columbia Ave) Exit 92 is closed due to a crash per Calhoun County Dispatch.

The Battle Creek Police Department is requesting that area residents stay off the roads as much as possible on Friday as snow continues to fall and emergency responders try to catch up on clearing a variety of accidents.