15-Vehicle Pileup on Indiana Bypass Amid Treacherous Weather

ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind. (WSBT) — Treacherous weather conditions led to a series of crashes across Michiana on Tuesday, including a 15-vehicle pileup on the US-31 Bypass southwest of South Bend. The St. Joseph County Police Department responded to more than 33 crashes between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., with the most severe incident involving two semi-trucks and a school bus.

Sheriff Bill Redman confirmed that only two minor injuries were reported, despite the scale of the pileup. The school bus, which was empty except for the driver, was among the vehicles involved. The eastbound and southbound lanes of the Bypass were closed for several hours but reopened by 5 p.m. Officials urged drivers to avoid the area as roads remained slick.

Visibility was severely reduced due to blowing snow, and police reported that an officer had to drive off the road to avoid being struck by a semi-truck. The crashes occurred near State Road 2 and Mayflower Road, with traffic backups extending to mile marker 61, approximately 10 miles west of South Bend.

Indiana State Police warned drivers to slow down and exercise caution as light lake-effect snow continued into the evening. Snowfall totals were expected to reach 1-2 inches, with blowing snow creating hazardous driving conditions. Authorities emphasized that all hands were on deck to manage the situation and ensure public safety.

This is a developing story. Stay with WSBT 22 News for updates.