WB I-696 At Mound Rd. In Macomb Co. Closed After Rollover Crashes: MSP

MACOMB COUNTY, MI — All westbound lanes on Interstate 696 at Mound Road in Macomb County were closed Tuesday morning after a pair of rollover crashes, according to Michigan State Police.

Troopers said the driver of a flat-bed semi truck tried to make a late exit off the freeway at Mound Round at 6:15 a.m. when it flipped over. The jackknifed semi truck dumped a load of steel coils, which weighed 107,000 pounds, all over the roadway, police said.

No injuries were reported in the crash.

As troopers were investigation the jackknifed semi truck, a garbage truck then rolled over in the area and spilled several gallons of oil all over the roadway at roughly 8 a.m., police said.

The driver of the garage truck suffered non-life threatening injuries in the crash, police said.

Police said westbound Interstate 696 at Mound Road will be closed for hours and urged drivers to avoid westbound Interstate 696 from Interstate 94 and Interstate 75.

"Often we see secondary crashes in the back-up of freeway crashes. Today is no exception," Michigan State Police said in a statement. "This back up is growing."

Troopers urged drivers to be patient, use caution and keep their distance from the vehicle in front of them as rain was expected to fall throughout Tuesday.

"Preventable crashes not only cause injuries but can also make it difficult to get around the district," First Lt. Mike Shaw said. "While speed, following too close and distracted driving can cause crashes on a sunny day, these behaviors are even worse in bad weather."