Storms black out 267,000 in Michigan, cause death

Utility crews are working to restore power to tens of thousands of Michigan homes and businesses after a winter storm packing high winds and up to 15 inches of snow blacked out more than a quarter-million electricity customers statewide and caused a fatal crash.

AP Wire

Traverse City

Mar 5, 2012

The Van Buren County Sheriff’s Department said 19-year-old Samantha Anthony of Lawrence Township died Sunday morning after skidding in front of a semitrailer truck on snowy Interstate 94 in her Kalamazoo-area community.

The storm that hit Friday also triggered deadly tornadoes across the Midwest.

Consumers Energy said about 51,000 of its customers remained without service at 4 p.m. Sunday, down from 147,000. DTE Energy Co. said about 5,000 of 120,000 customers remained powerless at 4 p.m. Sunday.

Traverse City public schools canceled classes today because of power failures.