Michigan pile-up: One dead after 150 vehicles including trailer carrying formic acid crash
Twenty-three people were also injured when vehicles caught fire
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A Canadian truck driver has died and dozens have been injured after a pile-up of about 150 vehicles including a trailer transporting formic acid and another one carrying fireworks on a major US road.
A three-mile area around the crash in southern Michigan, about ten miles east of Kalamazoo, was evacuated out of caution because formic acid is a hazardous material which can irritate eyes and skin, state police said.
Michigan State Police spokesman Lt. Rick Pazder said fireworks exploded at the scene as the trucks caught on fire.
Twenty-three people required hospital treatment, the BBC has reported.
It was the most severe incident so far in three days of bitter cold and snow that have gripped the Midwest and the East Coast as a mass of Arctic air moves into the United States causing snowflakes as far south as Florida.
The evacuation order was later lifted after the formic acid had burned off, Mr Pazder told Reuters.
Icy conditions and low visibility are believed to have contributed to the crash.
Interstate 94 - a major highway that connects the Great Lakes with the mountainous areas in the center of the country - was shut down in both directions.
Additional reporting by Reuters
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments