A four-vehicle crash occurred Saturday afternoon near the Martin exit on U.S.-131. Authorities said an Indiana woman is dead and three others were injured.
The crash happened near the 55 mile marker in Allegan County, near Martin.
Traffic was heavy Saturday in that area because of the Funny Car Nationals at Martin Motor Park Speedway.
Michigan State Police from the Wayland post reported that a Chevrolet Tahoe rear-ended a Mercury sedan stopped on the freeway because of a construction backup. The driver of the Mercury, a 65-year-old Diana Thornton of Bremen, Ind., later died in a nearby hospital.
The crash caused a chain reaction involving two other cars, a Ford Flex and a Chevy Impala. Drivers and passengers in those other vehicles were not seriously injured.
Alcohol is not suspected to have been a factor and all were was wearing a seat belt.
Martin Fire & Rescue personnel were on the scene almost immediately after the incident. Traffic in the area was slowed to a crawl and many motorists were forced to take alternative routes on 10th Street.
