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CRASH DATE
Sunday, September 27, 2026
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TIME
≈ 12:15 a.m.
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LOCATION
Westbound I-96 near 8th Avenue and Ironwood Drive, Wright Township, Ottawa County (near Marne)
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By TruckCrash News Desk · Michigan Daily Crash Report
| Date & time | Sunday, September 27, 2026, about 12:15 a.m. |
| Location | Westbound I-96 near 8th Avenue / Ironwood Drive, Wright Township, Ottawa County |
| Vehicles | Infiniti sedan; semi-truck; unoccupied Chevrolet Avalanche pickup (parked on the shoulder) |
| Injuries | One passenger died at the scene; the Infiniti's driver was hospitalized in serious but stable condition; the semi-truck driver was not hurt |
| Road impact | Westbound I-96 closed at 8th Avenue for several hours during the investigation |
What Happened
A passenger died and a driver was seriously injured early Sunday morning after their car collided with a parked pickup truck and then a semi-truck on westbound I-96 near Marne in Ottawa County's Wright Township, the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office said.
According to the sheriff's office, a semi-truck had entered westbound I-96 from Ironwood Drive when an Infiniti traveling behind it attempted to pass the semi on the right shoulder. While passing, the Infiniti struck an unoccupied Chevrolet Avalanche that was parked on the shoulder. The impact forced the Infiniti back into the roadway, where it collided with the semi-truck before coming to rest in the median, according to the sheriff's office.
The passenger in the Infiniti was found pinned inside the vehicle and was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver was extricated and taken to a hospital in serious but stable condition. The semi-truck driver was not injured. The identities of those involved have not been released pending notification of family.
Reporting: WWMT News Channel 3, Ottawa News Network, with information from the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office.
The Investigation: What Happens Next
The Ottawa County Sheriff's Office is investigating the crash and has not released a cause. Anyone with information can contact the Silent Observer tip line at 877-88-SILENT (745368) or mosotips.com.
Westbound I-96 was closed at 8th Avenue for several hours while deputies and crash reconstructionists worked the scene.
The Legal Picture
Q1: What happens after a fatal crash involving a commercial semi-truck? The investigating agency documents the scene, the vehicles, and any citations, and fatal crashes involving commercial vehicles are typically also reported into federal systems that track carrier and driver safety records.
Q2: How does Michigan law treat losses from a crash like this generally? Michigan's no-fault insurance framework governs how claims for injuries and losses from motor-vehicle crashes are handled in the state, alongside separate rules that can apply when a commercial vehicle is involved.
Q3: Where can readers learn more about how these crashes are investigated? Our truck accident resource pages explain, in general terms, how commercial-vehicle crashes are investigated and documented in Michigan.
This Stretch of Road
I-96 through Wright Township in Ottawa County is a major east-west freight corridor connecting Grand Rapids to the Lakeshore, and the Marne/8th Avenue area sees a steady mix of commercial trucks, local traffic entering from Ironwood Drive, and highway speeds converging near the shoulder. A closure here, as Sunday's was, forces westbound traffic to divert onto local roads while the scene is cleared.
If You Saw This Crash
Anyone who witnessed the crash on westbound I-96 near Marne early Sunday morning, or who has dash-camera video from around 12:15 a.m., is asked to contact the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office or the Silent Observer tip line at 877-88-SILENT (745368). Witness accounts can be especially valuable to investigators piecing together a fast-moving, multi-vehicle crash.
- WWMT News Channel 3: Passenger killed, driver injured in I-96 crash near Marne in Ottawa County
- Ottawa News Network: One dead, one seriously injured in three-vehicle crash on I-96
About TruckCrash News: TruckCrash News publishes daily reports on traffic crashes across Michigan, drawn from official statements by police agencies and reporting from local news outlets. Our goal is to keep Michigan drivers informed about serious crashes, road closures, and traffic safety issues in their communities.
This article is based on information available at the time of publication from the cited sources. Details may change as investigations continue. Nothing in this article is legal advice, and nothing in it should be read as assigning fault or legal responsibility to any person. All persons are presumed innocent of any traffic offense unless established by the proper authorities.