Why the Mackinac Bridge Was Shut Down for Hours This Week

We now know what caused the Mackinac Bridge to suddenly shut down Wednesday morning, and the details are pretty wild.

According to SooToday, several vehicles went through the southbound toll booths just before 3 a.m. Once they got through, police say the drivers punched it and started driving recklessly across the bridge.

What Caused the Mackinac Bridge Crash?

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The vehicles were coming up on a construction zone where southbound traffic was down to one lane. That’s when police say one driver rear-ended another vehicle.

Four people were taken to the hospital. Two were seriously injured, while the other two suffered injuries that weren’t considered life-threatening.

Police believe speed and alcohol were both factors in the crash.

Driver Charged in Mackinac Bridge Crash

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Police arrested a 28-year-old man from Jamaica who had been living and working in the area seasonally. He was taken to the Mackinac County Jail.

He’s facing a charge of reckless driving causing serious impairment of a body function. Police haven’t released his name yet because he still needs to be arraigned.

More charges could be coming as police continue investigating. They’re also looking into whether any of the other drivers were driving recklessly on the bridge.

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The Mackinac Bridge was closed for several hours while emergency crews helped the injured and police investigated the crash.