A semitractor-trailer crashed into traffic on the Michigan interstate just before midnight Saturday, killing four people and injuring 17 others, police said.

Michigan State Police troopers were deployed on Interstate 96 and were controlling traffic while workers installed power lines along the road, the department said in a statement.

Police said “numerous” cars were stopped in the westbound lane of the highway near the M-52 interchange before the crash. As part of the work carried out by Consumer Energy, the police had to completely close the road for a short time.

Police said the vehicles had just started moving when the truck hit them.

“It appears that the driver of the semi-truck did not see the backup and was unable to stop his vehicle in time,” police said. “The semi truck was in the left lane of travel and struck multiple vehicles.”

Police said the truck and more than a dozen other vehicles caught fire after the crash.

“The 17 occupants of the vehicle were transported to UM Sparrow Hospital and McLaren Hospital in Lansing for serious injuries,” police said.