Heavy snow in US strands drivers in 100-vehicle crash

By AFP January 19, 2026 | 06:45 pm PT

Photos shared on social media shows dozens of vehicles piled up and blocking a busy interstate road in the U.S., Jan. 19, 2026.

U.S. law enforcement officials said on Jan. 19 they were working to clear roads after a 100-vehicle crash occurred on snow-blanketed roads in the northern state of Michigan.

Michigan State Police said numerous injuries were reported in the crash, with none "believed to be fatal", after big rig trucks and vehicles collided on the I-196 corridor, causing many vehicles to run off the road in "multiple slide-offs."

The Jan. 19 morning incident included 30-40 semi-trucks, piled up and blocking the typically busy interstate road, which remained closed hours later.

Officials urged motorists to slow down in "treacherous" conditions on Jan. 19, with a winter storm continuing to dump snow on the region and temperatures expected to fall to minus 22 degrees Celsius, including wind chill.

The National Weather Service (NWS) said "snow and blowing snow" with accumulations of up to 10.16 cm were expected overnight, bringing the current storm total to as high as 35.5 cm for portions of south-west and west central Michigan.

"Travel is not recommended in the area," NWS said in a statement.