ROAD AND TRAFFIC SAFETY STUDY ORDERED INTO 193-VEHICLE CRASH ON I-94 IN MICHIGAN THAT KILLED ONE AND INJURED AT LEAST 20 OTHERS
February 7,
2015
KALAMAZOO,
MICHIGAN – As investigators complete their reports on a huge January traffic
crash, a study of I-94 is underway.
Michigan
State Police have sent their reports to the Kalamazoo County prosecutor on
their investigation into the 193-vehicle crash on Jan. 9.
An
accident in the eastbound lanes followed by another in the westbound lanes
killed one truck driver and injured more than 20 other people.
Several
vehicles caught fire, one leaked toxic chemicals and another loaded with
fireworks exploded and the highway was closed for more than two days.
The
reports will be reviewed by the prosecutor's office for any possible charges,
officials said Friday.
Meanwhile
a study of the interstate is underway, according to the Michigan Department of
Transportation.
Jeff
Cranson, a spokesman for the department, said the review will take four to six
months and will consider a variety of issues on I-94 from the Indiana state
line to US-127 in Jackson.
Cranson
said MDOT and state police will consider traffic operations, roadway geometry,
law enforcement activity, crash history and related weather conditions.
He
said detailed analysis will be conducted on areas of the road with higher rates
of incidents.
State
Senator Margaret O'Brien of the 20th district, which includes the crash scene,
said she asked for the Road Safety Audit.
In
January, O'Brien asked Gov. Rick Snyder to order a study on the eastbound
section of I-94 where the first accident occurred "and offer recommendations
on possible changes to the roadway."
She
listed figures from the state police showing that in the 12-mile stretch of
highway where the accident occurred had 230 accidents in 2011, 222 accidents in
2012 and 275 accidents in 2013.
MDOT
director, Kurt Steudle, in a letter to O'Brien, said the study will be
conducted by representatives from his department, MSP, Federal Highway
Administration, and Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning.
He
said the study team could provide both short- and long-term changes.