### Fatal Michigan Collision: Semi Truck Crash Claims 4 Lives, Injures 17

A tragic accident occurred on Interstate 96 east of Lansing, Michigan, on Saturday night, resulting in four fatalities and 17 serious injuries. The crash involved a semi truck slamming into traffic that had been halted for utility work, as confirmed by Michigan State Police.

The incident happened at approximately 11:40 p.m. when crews from DTE Energy were working to string power lines across the highway. State troopers had temporarily shut down westbound I-96 for the utility work and had just reopened the highway, causing a traffic backup. The driver of the semi truck, which was hauling bananas, failed to notice the stopped traffic in time and could not halt the vehicle, leading to the catastrophic collision.

The intense impact caused the semi truck and several cars to burst into flames. The pileup involved a total of 15 vehicles, according to the Michigan State Police. Among the four individuals who lost their lives were two women, aged 20 and 43, and a 47-year-old man, all from Lansing and traveling in a Chevy Trax. The fourth victim, a 29-year-old Carson City man, was driving a Ford F-150 pickup.

The semi truck driver, currently unnamed, was transported to the University of Michigan Medical Center in Ann Arbor for burn treatment. The investigation is still in its early stages, and it is unclear if charges will be pressed against the driver.

Three of the injured victims were admitted to the University of Michigan Health-Sparrow, with one in critical condition and two in stable condition, as stated by hospital spokesman Chris Zoladz. Other injured individuals were taken to McLaren Greater Lansing, although their conditions remain undisclosed.

Cleanup efforts continued on Sunday, with crews clearing debris from the westbound lanes of I-96. The affected overpass will stay closed indefinitely while the State Department of Transportation assesses its structural safety, authorities reported.

DTE Energy spokeswoman Colleen Rosso expressed condolences to those affected, noting the power line work was part of a $9 billion infrastructure upgrade aimed at enhancing the reliability of the electric grid.