A three vehicle pile up involving a semi truck in a construction zone merge left two people dead in Michigan on Tuesday afternoon. 

The accident happened on Tuesday, July 1st at 3:14 p.m. in Ionia County, Michigan on Interstate 96 westbound. 

According to WZZM13, a semi truck was stopped for traffic in a construction zone merge when a pickup truck pulled up behind it. A box truck was then unable to stop in time and crashed into the pickup, pushing it into the semi truck. 

The box truck then ended up nearly on top of the pickup, and both vehicles bust into flames. Both the box truck driver and the pickup driver were pronounced dead at the scene. 

The Ionia County Sheriff’s Office says that heavy traffic at the entrance of the construction zone and drivers not maintaining appropriate distance were the cause of the accident. 

I-96 westbound was shut down for about 7 hours. It was reopened at 10:20 p.m. on Tuesday night.