One dead, many injured in rollover crash involving children on I-96 near Lowell

18.05.12

LOWELL — An 18-year-old man has died and nearly a dozen passengers were injured in a one-vehicle, roll-over crash on eastbound I-96 just west of Alden Nash Avenue, according to police dispatch reports.

Police said the vehicle was a large van carrying congregants from a church in West Africa. The van was bound for Lansing.

The injured passengers, numbering around a dozen, ranged in age from 8 months to 23 years, according to police. Two AeroMed helicopters and multiple ambulances were used to take victims to local hospitals.

Some of the younger victims were reportedly strapped in car seats and escaped serious injury. Most passengers were reportedly ejected from the vehicle, according to medical dispatch traffic.

Police have shut down eastbound I-96 at M-6 to work the scene. Authorities had been rerouting motorists to westbound I-96 on an "authorized vehicle" turnaround.

A motorist who said he was driving some 100 or so yards behind the van told The Press the vehicle clipped another before rolling into the ditch.

Source: MLive.com