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Whiplash Weather Leads To Freeway Closure

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BATTLE CREEK, Mich. — An Emmitt Township cruiser was hit by a driver as the officer tried to deal with a jackknifed semi early Thursday.

The semi and a nearby rollover led to the closure of westbound I-94 around 4:40 a.m.

The semi was in the median and fuel leaked from the truck’s tanks. While an Emmett Township police officer on the scene was waiting for a hazmat crew and other help, another driver slid into the police car. The officer was unhurt.

Shortly after, a driver rolled his vehicle on I-94 at mile marker. The driver was trapped while the vehicle was on its top, but he told a state trooper he didn’t think he was hurt.

The expressway was reopened by 5:45 a.m. after the semi and the police cruiser were removed. It took longer to clear the rollover.

Meanwhile, unrelated to the weather, a truck’s tire caught fire on northbound US-31 at Lincoln Avenue, and while fire crews took care of that, northbound US-31 was closed at Central Avenue for a time.

(Photo of semis backed up on I-94 courtesy of FOX 17 viewer Mike Arnswald.)