Lansing, Michigan
A cable median likely prevented what could have been a devastating crash this morning. "[The cable] did exactly what it's supposed to do," said Lt. Greg Hull of the Ingram County Sheriff's Department. "That was a fully-loaded tanker truck and it prevented it from going into oncoming traffic."
The accident was reported just after 5:00 a.m. on Interstate 96 near U.S. Route 127 in Lansing.
According to Michigan Live, a tanker truck collided with a passenger vehicle, hit the cable median and ricocheted back onto the highway where it rolled over. Another passenger vehicle then collided with the tanker, spilling asphalt onto the highway.
The drivers of both passenger vehicles were hospitalized with injuries not considered life-threatening. "That median is only about 15 to 20 feet wide," said Hull. "Without that [median] there, it would've crossed over and could've been a deadly crash."
Cable medians have been the topic of discussion in the media since last month's
fatal crash in Orland, California between a FedEx truck and a tour bus transporting high school students. The FedEx truck crossed over the grassy median of Interstate 5 and collided head-on with the tour bus. Ten people were killed, including five high school students. Dozens of others were injured. Many safety advocates have said the crash could have been prevented if a cable median were installed along Interstate 5.