3 people dead in series of crashes in western Michigan

A person with a disabled vehicle who stepped into U.S. 131 was killed Thursday in western Michigan, causing traffic backups that led to more crashes that killed two more people, police said.

The crashes occurred on northbound lanes in Allegan County, between Martin and Bradley, roughly 30 miles south of Grand Rapids. The first incident occurred shortly before noon.

“A pedestrian who appeared to have been working on a broken-down vehicle stepped into the lane of traffic and was struck by a semi,” the county sheriff’s office said.

Subsequent crashes occurred over the next few hours.  (AP)