Whiteout conditions on Mich. highway blamed for 24-vehicle pileup;

Sunday, January 28th 2007, 6:14 pm

By: News On 6

LAPEER TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) -- Whiteout conditions on a freeway Sunday caused an accident involving 20 cars and four trucks and prompted authorities to close part of the roadway, police said.

There were no fatalities, but motorists had numerous injuries, said Scott Richardson, a Lapeer County emergency management spokesman.

The crash, which happened shortly before 2:30 p.m., forced authorities to close a five-mile stretch in both directions of Interstate 69 about 50 miles north of Detroit. The eastbound lane was reopened shortly before 5 p.m., police said.

The National Weather Service said three to 10 inches were expected in Michigan's Thumb region. One to two feet of snow was possible Sunday night in southwest Michigan, just north of the Indiana line.