By Jason Wesseldyk
Sports Editor
A weather-related pileup involving nearly two dozen vehicles forced authorities to shut down a portion of U.S. 131 in Allegan County on Saturday, March 12.
Police closed the northbound lanes of U.S. 131 at mile marker 49 near Plainwell beginning at approximately 11:30 a.m. following the crash. Those lanes remained closed for more than two hours as emergency crews cleared the scene.
Two minor injuries being reported as a result of the accident, but officials say no one was seriously injured.
According to the National Weather Service in Grand Rapids, the combination of snow showers and wind led to “brief whiteouts and sudden slippery conditions” on parts of U.S. 131.
The closure caused traffic to back up into Kalamazoo County, with drivers urged to exit at D Avenue to avoid getting caught up in the gridlock.
A portion of southbound U.S. 131 in the area was also briefly closed during that time.