At Least 9 Injured in 18-wheeler Pile-up Accident on I-196 in Ottawa County, MI
Ottawa County, MI — January 19, 2026, at least nine people were injured following an 18-wheeler pile-up accident at around 10:20 a.m. along I-196.
According to preliminary statements from the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office and the Michigan State Police, the pile-up happened along westbound lanes of I-196 between 32nd Avenue and 64th Street. That's in the area of Hudsonville southwest of Grand Rapids.
It appears that somewhere between nine to twelve people were taken to the hospital. Others had to be evacuated off the roadway. Authorities have not reported a direct cause for the crash, but there was serious winter weather in the area.
Investigations are ongoing.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
One can never ignore or overstate the challenges that serious winter weather conditions bring for drivers. But in almost every pile-up accident like this, thorough investigations will find one or multiple actions taken by drivers that set the events in motion. More often than not, it's the failure of drivers to adjust their behavior for inclement conditions that actually causes a crash like this. So, hopefully authorities here are working to preserve evidence and analyze driver behavior rather than just chalking this all up to snow and ice and calling it a day.
“These are essential reads for anyone dealing with the aftermath of a truck wreck”– Attorney Cory Carlson