Local News
One victim killed in fiery crash on I-96 in Ingham County identified
The driver of the semi-truck also suffered serious burn injuries.
A tragic multi-vehicle accident on westbound I-96 in Ingham County late Saturday night left four people dead and 17 others injured.
The crash occurred around 11:42 p.m. near M-52 in the Webberville area, resulting in a devastating pile-up involving around 15 vehicles, many of which caught fire.
The accident happened shortly after Michigan State Police (MSP) had temporarily closed the highway to allow DTE Energy crews to work on power lines over the expressway. When authorities reopened the road, some vehicles remained stopped on the expressway.
As traffic was resuming, a semi-truck with a trailer, unable to see or stop in time, collided with the stationary vehicles.
The collision triggered a fiery chain reaction, with the semi-truck and numerous other vehicles igniting upon impact.
According to MSP, the victims who lost their lives included a 29-year-old man from Carson City who was driving a Ford F-150 pickup truck. Also among the deceased were three individuals from Lansing: a 20-year-old woman, a 43-year-old woman, and 47-year-old Brandon Glasscoe.
Tragically, three of the four fatalities occurred in a single vehicle, while the driver of the pickup truck was ejected and killed upon impact.
Seventeen additional people sustained serious injuries and were transported to University of Michigan Health-Sparrow and McLaren Hospitals in Lansing.
The driver of the semi-truck also suffered serious burn injuries.
The intense fire resulting from the crash led to prolonged closures on I-96 and M-52 as crews from the Michigan Department of Transportation assessed the structural integrity of the overpass and cleared the extensive wreckage.
The area remained closed for nearly 24 hours while emergency responders and MDOT worked to make the scene safe for reopening.
Access to westbound I-96 near Webberville was finally restored on Monday morning, allowing traffic to resume after extensive clean-up efforts.
This incident is under ongoing investigation by the Michigan State Police, who continue to gather information to understand all contributing factors in this horrific accident.
Local News
Suspended Dearborn Ford worker Thomas Sabula received more than $320K after Trump flips him off
DEARBORN, Mich. โ A suspended Ford Motor Company employee has become the focus of national attention after a confrontation with former President Donald Trump during a visit to a Dearborn assembly plant, prompting an outpouring of public support that has raised more than $324,000 for his family through an online fundraiser.
The worker, Thomas โTJโ Sabula, a 40-year-old United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 600 member, was placed on suspension pending an internal investigation following an exchange that occurred while Trump was touring the facility.
According to video later obtained and published by TMZ, an off-camera voice can be heard shouting โpedophile protectorโ at the former president, an apparent reference to the administrationโs handling of documents related to the Jeffrey Epstein case.
In the footage, Trump appears to mouth an expletive and make a hand gesture before walking away.
The Washington Post subsequently identified Sabula as the individual who made the remark.
In an interview with the newspaper, Sabula confirmed that he was suspended after the incident and said he believes the action amounts to political retaliation.
โAs far as calling him out, definitely no regrets whatsoever,โ Sabula told The Post. โBut I am concerned about my job. I believe Iโve been targeted for political retribution for embarrassing him in front of his friends.โ
Sabula, who describes himself as politically independent, said he has never voted for Trump, though he has supported Republican candidates in the past.
In the days following the incident, a GoFundMe campaign was launched to assist Sabula and his family during his suspension.
The campaign states that Sabula is โa father of two young children, a husband, and a proud UAW Local 600 line worker,โ and that the funds will be used to help cover household and living expenses โduring this time of uncertainty.โ Donations quickly surged past $100,000, with notable contributions reportedly made by the rock band Dropkick Murphys.
Supporters have characterized Sabulaโs actions as a form of protest and free expression, while others have questioned whether his conduct violated workplace policies.
Ford Motor Company and union representatives have not publicly released details regarding the status of the internal investigation or whether disciplinary action beyond the suspension is being considered.
Following his visit to the Dearborn plant, Trump went on to deliver remarks at the Detroit Economic Club, where he had last spoken in October 2024.
The incident continues to draw attention amid broader political debate, as questions remain about workplace discipline, free speech, and the role of political expression in employment settings.