The official release updated the total number of people injured in a serious fatal crash on I-96

LANSING, Mich. (WILX) – As Michigan State Police investigate the cause of the deadly crash on I-96 near Webberville, News 10 is learning more people were injured than initially reported.

Four people were killed in the violent crash.

Authorities initially reported that 17 people were injured and taken to hospital. However, health officials confirmed that a total of 23 people were treated after the crash.

All nine people treated at McLaren Greater Lansing were released Monday. UM Health Sparrow says it has discharged 10 of the 14 people treated. Three remain hospitalized and a fourth was transferred to UM Health in Ann Arbor, who police say is the tractor-trailer driver.

According to state police, in advance of the crash, two troopers were stationed eastbound and westbound on I-96 to alert for a traffic slowdown a mile ahead of Saturday evening's utility work. Emergency lighting was activated and this was said to be an approximately 15 minute process of installing power lines by DTE.

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and Michigan State Police say work like this occurs frequently, but were unable to provide many details because the investigation is ongoing.

“It was not an MDOT construction project and I cannot speculate about the crash,” said Aaron Jerkins of MDOT.

“This happens every day, traffic jams and congestion on the highway happen every day. Could be at a construction site, a police officer was standing on the side of the road, so it happened because the semi truck driver was either not paying attention or couldn't stop in time. All of that caused this crash,” said Lt. Rene Gonzalez of the Michigan State Police.

State Police say there will be no change to the practice of deploying officers on the highway with emergency lights on the road to alert traffic on projects like these.

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