HARTFORD, Mich. (WOOD) — As West Michigan deals with the first snow storm of the season, deputies in Van Buren County were kept busy Friday responding to crashes.

There were “numerous” crashes in the county throughout the day, the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office said in a release.

One of the crashes resulted in a car landing in a ravine. It happened around 10 a.m. in the Hartford Area, on I-94 near County Road 687 in Hartford Township.

The sheriff office says a driver lost control and went into the median, crashing through the guardrail and landing in a ravine.

With the help of some bystanders, a deputy was able to help the driver out of the car and then out of the ravine, pulling him up 10 feet using rope, the sheriff’s office says. He was evaluated by first responders and was released with no injuries.

Most crashes deputies saw Friday were caused by drivers going too fast for the weather. The sheriff reminded people to slow down on the icy and snowy roads.

Storm Team 8 reports some West Michigan communities received more than 6 inches of lake-effect snow between Thursday and Friday evening. A winter weather advisory is in effect until 7 a.m. Saturday.

Stick with Storm Team 8 for the latest.