LOCAL 30-Vehicle Crash on 696

from WDIV Detroit TV 4

A crash involving about 30 vehicles on Interstate 696 on Wednesday afternoon was weather-related. Cars were swerving right and left as a tractor trailer went into the ditch.

The crash occurred on westbound I-696 between Drake Road and Halsted Road in Farmington Hills, according to police. Farmington Hills Police Chief William Dwyer described the crash as a "weather-related, chain-reaction pileup." He said the exact cause remains under investigation.

The freeway was closed at the start of the afternoon commute, but police were eventually able to open several lanes of traffic. The far right lane remained closed just after 6 p.m. while crews worked to remove the tractor-trailer from the ditch, but the entire freeway was expected to reopen about an hour later.