ROYAL OAK, MI — At least one person was seriously injured Wednesday morning after a motorcycle crash on westbound I-696 near Woodward Avenue in the Royal Oak area, according to Michigan State Police.
The wreck was reported around 7:12 a.m. and quickly disrupted traffic on the interstate during the commute. What began with one lane remaining open later escalated into a full closure of the westbound side of the highway.
Westbound lanes closed after the crash near Woodward
Michigan State Police said the crash happened in Oakland County on the westbound lanes of I-696 near the Woodward Avenue exit. The location placed the incident near one of metro Detroit’s busiest travel corridors, where traffic often moves heavily during the morning rush.
At first, crews were able to keep one lane moving. Later, the Michigan Department of Transportation closed all westbound lanes while responders dealt with the crash scene and investigators worked the roadway.
The closure affected drivers headed through the Royal Oak area and created delays for people traveling across the freeway network.
I-75 ramps into westbound I-696 were also shut down
The shutdown was not limited to I-696 itself. MDOT also closed the ramps from northbound I-75 to westbound I-696 and from southbound I-75 to westbound I-696 because of the crash.
Those ramp closures cut off two common entry points onto the freeway, adding to the impact for motorists trying to reach the westbound lanes. The traffic disruption extended beyond the immediate crash site and into the surrounding interchange area.
Drivers were urged to plan for delays until the roadway could be reopened.
Highway reopened at 9:29 a.m. after cleanup and response
Officials said the highway was cleared at 9:29 a.m., ending the closure that had lasted through part of the morning commute. By then, responders had removed the crash scene from the roadway and westbound traffic could move again.
The timeline meant the disruption lasted a little more than two hours from the time the crash was first reported. Even after the lanes reopened, drivers in the area could still have faced lingering congestion as traffic eased back into place.
Royal Oak police joined state police at the scene
Royal Oak Police also responded to the crash scene, joining Michigan State Police on the interstate. Their presence indicated a multi-agency response to manage traffic, secure the area and assist with the injured rider.
Authorities have not released additional details about the condition of the injured person or what led to the motorcycle crash. Michigan State Police said the incident remained under active attention as more information became available.
MDOT travel updates were posted on the MI Drive site
Michigan Department of Transportation reports about the crash and road conditions were available through the MI Drive website, which provides travel information for drivers in Michigan. That service is often used to check closures, lane restrictions and delays on major routes.
Officials described the incident as a developing story and said more details would be shared on air and online as they were confirmed. For commuters, the main takeaway was a serious crash, a major freeway closure and a reopening later in the morning.
