‘Christmas Week Storm’ wreaks havoc on U.S.-131

Though WOOD-TV meteorologist Bill Steffen claimed the Blizzard of 2022 was no match for the intensity of the one in 1978, the “Christmas Week Storm” certainly caused a lot of trouble.

There were several closures along the U.S.-131 expressway south of Grand Rapids from the 84th Street exit to as far south as the Bradley/Gun Lake Casino exit.

One particular crash occurred just north of the Wayland exit (No. 64) early Friday afternoon, prompting closure to as far north as 100th Street. Authorities reported a semi-tractor trailer struck an Allegan County sheriff’s deputy’s patrol car after the driver lost control. The deputy was not injured.

It seemed the locations of most traffic incidents took place between Wayland 100th Street.

State Police and the Allegan County Sheriff’s Department advised motorists not to take to the roads because of dangerous driving conditions, which included white-out conditions in some places.

State Police from the Wayland post said the series of collisions began around 12:20 p.m. Eight vehicles crashed after an initial two-vehicle collision.

The Leighton Township Fire Department posted on Facebook: “We have just returned from a two-car motor vehicle accident. Please do not go out on the roads unless absolutely necessary. Visibility is 5-15 feet at times. Road conditions are horrible with ice and snow. Fire dept. response times are down and ambulance response to calls and to hospitals are severely delayed with conditions. We are here, just takes a little longer.”

Meanwhile, more trouble was reported east of the city at the four corners of Patterson and 135th Avenue, where a power pole went down and lines were blocking the route west to Wayland.

Conditions became so bad by Friday evening that virtually all restaurants, some public services, Harding’s Market and even the Gun Lake Casino shut down operations.