US-131 was shut down for over 5 hours following 3 fatal crashes just before 1 p.m. Thursday.
The Allegan County Sheriff’s Office says the accidents occurred on US-131 Northbound between Martin and Bradley, closing the highway in both directions between Plainwell and Shelbyville.
The Allegan County Sheriff's Office tell FOX 17 a pedestrian, who seemed to be working on a vehicle at the side of the highway, stepped into the road and was hit by a passing semi. The pedestrian was killed in the collision.
Two more crashes happened because of the backup caused by the first. In the second crash, a pickup truck hit three vehicles stopped for the crash, killing a passenger in one of the vehicles.
Michigan State Police assisted with the third crash, telling us it involved 2 semis and a pickup truck. The first semi with the pickup behind it slowed down for traffic from the first two crashes, but the second semi did not notice the back up. The second semi pushed the pickup into the trailer of the first semi, then both it and the pickup went into the ditch. All three drivers were treated at the scene; two of them were taken to Metro Health Hospital for minor injuries.
