Police: Cable Barriers Stopped “Catastrophic” Wrong Way Semi Crash On I-94

Michigan police say that a cable barrier prevented a semi from entering I-94 in the wrong direction yesterday, stopping the truck from causing a “catastrophic” crash.

The incident happened yesterday just before 1 p.m. on I-94 near the town of Paw Paw. According to the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Department, 37 year old truck driver Lane Halter was driving a 20 ton truck in the westbound lanes of I-94 near mile marker 58 when he fell asleep. Halter’s semi left the interstate and entered the median.

Police say that the truck struck 45 cable barrier posts, but the barrier itself held and prevented the truck from entering the eastbound lanes of I-94.

Sheriff Daniel E. Abbott stated, “It was clear that the cable barrier prevented the semi-truck and trailer from entering into the eastbound lane, which could have been catastrophic.”

No injuries were reported.

Halter was cited for careless driving.

Alcohol was not a factor in the incident.