Terrifying Whiteout Triggers 100-Vehicle Crash Near Grand Rapids

Whiteout conditions are being blamed for causing a pileup involving more than 100 vehicles just outside Grand Rapids, Michigan, on Monday.

What Caused the Massive I-196 Pileup?

The accident began on I-196 between Hudsonville and Zeeland shortly after 10 a.m. Michigan State Police say that 30-40 tractor-trailers were among the dozens of vehicles involved. It is unclear how many vehicles were struck by others versus how many ran off the road, but dozens of motorists were stranded for hours while authorities worked to clear the scene.

A few people were reportedly taken to local hospitals with mostly minor injuries, but no fatalities were reported.

READ MORE: Michigan's 4 Most Dangerous Highways Are a Nightmare for Commuters

Pedro Mata, Jr. was one of the drivers involved in the chain reaction pileup.

"I had to go off the edge," Mata said. He got out of his vehicle and posted a 2-minute video to Facebook showing the extent of the crash. Several cars and jackknifed semi-trucks can be seen off either side of the interstate, in addition to the ones that managed to stay on the travel lanes. One driver was seen unable to open his jammed driver-side door to get out of his vehicle.

Why West Michigan Is Prone to Winter Pileups

Pileups such as this are not unusual in this part of Michigan, especially during the winter months thanks to lake effect snow. Sudden squalls can create whiteout conditions, resulting in accidents such as this one on I-196.

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Check out pics from inside the 100+ car pileup below, courtesy of Pedro Mata, Jr.