A rear-end collision on the Mackinac Bridge early Wednesday, Sept. 23, injured four people, two of them seriously, and led to the arrest of a driver on suspicion of reckless driving. The crash shut down the only road link between Michigan's Upper and Lower peninsulas for more than four hours.

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) reported the bridge closure at 3:32 a.m., according to the Soo Leader. MDOT followed with an alert at 3:55 a.m. urging drivers to avoid the area.

Troopers from the MSP St. Ignace Post responded at about 2:55 a.m. Multiple vehicles passed through the southbound I-75 toll booths and quickly accelerated, driving recklessly at high speeds, before one vehicle rear-ended another near an active construction zone, where southbound traffic was restricted to a single lane, according to MSP's Eighth District. Two people were seriously injured and two sustained non-life-threatening injuries. All four were taken to a hospital.

Police said speed and alcohol are believed to be factors in the crash. A 28-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of reckless driving causing serious impairment of a body function, a felony, and lodged in the Mackinac County Jail. His name is being withheld pending arraignment. Additional charges may be requested pending review by the Mackinac County Prosecutor, and investigators are also looking into whether other drivers were involved in reckless driving on the bridge before the crash. MSP said all those involved are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

The MSP St. Ignace Post is leading the investigation. The Mackinac Bridge Authority, MDOT, Mackinac County Emergency Management, St. Ignace Police Department, Mackinaw City Police Department, Mackinac County Sheriff's Office, Cheboygan County Sheriff's Office, Straits Area EMS, St. Ignace Fire and Rescue, Chippewa County Dispatch and CCE Dispatch assisted, according to MSP.

MSP Eighth District, the state police public information account for the Upper Peninsula, posted on X Wednesday morning that the bridge would reopen once the on-scene investigation was completed. The span was still closed at the time of that post.

The bridge reopened just before 8 a.m. Wednesday, according to WLUC.

Drivers who crossed after reopening also encountered a high wind warning from the Mackinac Bridge Authority. The authority told motorists to cut their speed to 20 mph, turn on four-way flashers and stay in the outside lane. Pickup trucks with campers, motor homes, vehicles pulling trailers and enclosed semi-truck trailers are especially vulnerable to high winds, the authority said.

The driver's name has not been released and will remain withheld until arraignment. The investigation remains open, and authorities have not announced a timeline for additional updates or charges.

On Tuesday, Sept. 22, state officials reported that 20 people had died on Michigan roads since the prior week, pushing the 2026 statewide total to 694 fatalities, according to the Detroit News. Serious injuries statewide totaled 3,791 through that date, down 120 compared with the same point in 2025.

Travelers in the Straits area can tune to AM radio 530 or 1610 for bridge updates.