Semi crashes still snarling traffic on I-94 west of Chelsea
Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com
One lane of eastbound I-94 will likely remain closed until 3 or 4 p.m., Sgt. Chris Pascoe of the Ypsilanti Post of the Michigan State Police said. The cleanup is taking a long time because crews have to manually empty the trucks, he said.
One semi driver told police he fell asleep, Pascoe said, and the other said he was picking something up from the floor when the crash occurred. “It’s a real mess out there on I-94 today,” Pascoe said.
The first crash occurred about 3 a.m. near Pierce Road, Pascoe said. The second happened about an hour later near Kalmbach Road about a mile west of the first one, Pascoe said.
"It was a fluke," said Pascoe. "Two semis both drove off the road and overturned last night within in an hour of each other."
Comments
Loves Animals
Fri, Nov 13, 2009 : 9:52 a.m.
Truck drivers are forced to drive ridiculous hours so, for one of them to fall asleep, as scary and as dangerous as that is, its inevidable that it will happen. It's a scary world out there with this economy. Truckers are going to do what they are told to do so they can keep their jobs and support their families. This includes driving a LOT of hours on little or no sleep. Thank God nobody was seriously injured. I know, firsthand, that there are no rumble strips on that freshly paved highway. If that driver did fall asleep, he would have had a chance if there were safety devices in place. That's what they are for. Its the law that they have them on all highways in Michigan and that one clearly does not.
Woman in Ypsilanti
Thu, Nov 12, 2009 : 4:39 p.m.
I think it would be nicer if more freight arrived by train. But until then, I do sometimes worry that truck drivers are forced to work really long hours and that leads to fatigue which is pretty dangerous. Especially when someone is driving a vehicle that is so much larger than people's cars.
Went South
Thu, Nov 12, 2009 : 3:25 p.m.
That can't be a Michigan Highway photo with this story, the road looks freshly paved and without pot holes. Not to mention, where are the orange barrels? Just my observation.
Sling Blade
Thu, Nov 12, 2009 : 3:03 p.m.
I have noticed that non truck drivers are getting worse lately. It used to be that they were courteous, I guess they don't require much in the way of training anymore, they are often rude and distracted. Remember that everything arrives via truck. That double mocha cappuccino latte that your drinking was shipped by truck and that goes for that foreign hybrid car that you drive.
81wolverine
Thu, Nov 12, 2009 : 1:09 p.m.
That stretch of I-94 has been terrible in recent years for both truck and car accidents. I know merging lanes cause some of the accidents, especially when trucks are entering the highway slowly and people are daydreaming - then slam into them. Fortunately, the Baker Rd. entrance ramp was greatly improved in the last few years. That location used to be a huge cause of accidents.
Macabre Sunset
Thu, Nov 12, 2009 : 12:50 p.m.
I have noticed truck drivers are getting a lot worse lately. It used to be they were the best, most courteous drivers on the road. Now that there are so many of them, I guess they don't require much in the way of training any more. They are often rude and distracted.