Southeastern Michigan was hit by snow squalls Wednesday night and Thursday morning, leaving several inches of snow on three Detroit-area highways.

The first winter weather advisory of the season was issued for Thursday morning after snow began falling late Wednesday evening. The lake-effect snow squalls blew through northern Wayne County and southern Oakland and Macomb counties, particularly along the 696 corridor.

As of Thursday morning, Michigan State Police reported responding to 86 traffic accidents.

“Slow!” MSP wrote on X: “The weather doesn’t cause accidents, the drivers do!”

Salt trucks and snow plows are on the roads, but you must stay 200 feet behind a snow plow while driving.

Additionally, Michigan law requires motorists to exceed the posted speed limit and stay within 10 miles per hour when encountering emergency vehicles – including police and tow trucks.

An MSP car was struck by a tractor-trailer in a crash on I-75 Thursday morning.

Several MSP units sustained extensive damage after being hit near the 11 mile ramp in Royal Oak.

The tractor-trailer attempted to brake after striking the parked MSP vehicles, causing it to lose control and crash into the first patrol car, which spun 100 yards into the back of another state police vehicle carrying one of the troopers sat.

Police said the truck attempted to pass slow-moving traffic by moving into the left lane, but MSP troopers parked there with emergency lights on. The soldier avoided serious injury by jumping over the central wall. The truck driver was arrested for reckless driving.

Winter WeatherMichigan State PoliceWayne CountyOakland CountyMacomb CountyTraffic