Traffic snarled on I-696 near Warren in aftermath of tractor-trailer crash
Traffic snarls related to a semi crash on Interstate 696 near Warren were expected to last into the morning, with both directions of travel affected in that section of Metro Detroit.
"Cleanup of crash, barrier wall and hazmat oil/gas expected to take hours," the Michigan Department of Transportation reported about 5:15 a.m.
The crash was reported about 3:40 a.m., according to Michigan State Police, Second District. The 41-year-old driver from Houston, Texas, was eastbound when they felt the vehicle swerve.
The driver then lost control and crashed into the concrete wall on I-696 at Milton in Warren, between Dequindre Road / Exit 20 and Mound Road / Exit 22. There were on reported injuries and no other vehicles involved.
By 3:51 a.m., according to traffic reports, MDOT ordered all lanes of westbound I-696 closed at 11 Mile Road / Exit 28 in Macomb County. Initially, one eastbound lane was open near Dequindre Road; but by 4:22 a.m., all eastbound lanes of I-696 were closed at Couzens Avenue / Exit 19 in Oakland County.
The trailer was pulled out by 6 a.m., but some of the wreckage remained on site.
By 7 a.m., one eastbound lane of traffic was moving again; and by 11 a.m. the traffic map showed one lane open in each direction.
MDOT traffic updates are posted at the MI Drive site.
""Drivers need to remember when the weather gets bad, slow down," Michigan State Police F/Lt. Mike Shaw said. "We were very lucky that no one was hurt in this crash, but the damage caused and the inconvenience to drivers in the area was substantial."