West Bloomfield Township was caught in a slick predicament after roads were shut down due to an oily substance covering the pavement. The road closure affected the stretch from St. Joseph Street to Pine Ridge Road, causing disturbances throughout Tuesday. According to West Bloomfield Police Deputy Chief Dale Young, police suspect that the oil was intentionally dumped by a box truck witnessed near Square Lake and Middlebelt around 10:45 p.m. on Monday, FOX 2 Detroit reports

Commuters faced disruptions following the greasy discovery that rendered Square Lake Road a no-go zone; this prompted officers to divert traffic and call in crews to manage the unexpected spillage, The Detroit News has elaborated. With the danger it posed, making the road slick and unsafe, authorities had no choice but to cordon off the affected area, as residents awoke to the news of the oil affecting both the main road and nearby side streets.

The spill was substantially dealt with by Tuesday, as clean-up crews tackled the layer of oil with sand before officials gave the green light to reopen the road, noted Patch. Despite the reopening, local police urged drivers to seek alternate routes to ensure their safety, in light of the recent closures and ongoing investigations into the exact nature of the substance.

Authorities have confirmed that the oil, while a hassle, was not harmful, which might offer some solace to concerned locals, yet the nature of this intentional act remains a mystery, and police are keen on finding the individual behind the wheel of the box truck responsible for this messy situation anyone with information about the event is asked to contact Detective Foster with the West Bloomfield Township police at 248-975-8926; the closed roads may have opened, but the case is far from shut.