Saturday, Jan. 24 was not a good day to be driving on I-75.
Reports taken by the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department and the Michigan State Police included an estimated 50-60 vehicles involved in crashes at various places along the freeway, according to Lt. Dale LaBair, commander of the Independence Township substation.
The freeway was closed at Sashabaw Road for a good portion of the day, with crashes beginning as early as 6:30 a.m. Another closure took place near E. Holly Road, where Springfield deputies noted seven different crash incidents.
Several reports noted ‘black ice? and the position of the early morning sun directly above the roadway as contributing factors for several of the crashes. In several incidents, multiple vehicles were involved because drivers were unable to react to the brake lights of vehicles in front of them.
Officials believe it was not for a lack of coverage by road crews. Sgt. Frank Schipani, commander of the Springfield Township sheriff’s substation, said it was simply a matter of ‘bad weather.?
‘I think it was so cold that the salt wasn’t working,? LaBair said.
I-75 wasn’t the only place for vehicle mishaps. Deputies took several reports on Sashabaw Road, including one which sent a 17-year-old Clarkston woman to the hospital when her vehicle slid off the road and overturned south of Pine Knob Road. Reports indicated moderate injuries.
In another mid-morning incident, a 26-year-old Clarkston man lost control while southbound on Sashabaw near Major Road. His vehicle crashed into a road sign then into a large electrical box controlling a municipal sewer pumping station. Reports indicated moderate injuries, but the driver took himself to Clarkston Medical Center.