Four Madison area hospitals reported that they received 54 victims of the pileup, including UW Hospital, Meriter Hospital, St. Mary’s Hospital and Stoughton Hospital, WISC-TV reported.
UW Hospital officials said that the crash victims in the most critical conditions were taken there. They said that they received eight total victims between 4 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., with one listed in critical condition and seven listed in serious condition as of 6 p.m.
Officials said that the hospital’s multi-victim trauma and emergency plans both went into effect, which called for more staff to treat the victims.
“Every hospital, including this one, drills emergency plans,” said UW Hospital spokeswoman Lisa Brunette. “We drill our plan at least twice a year so that people know where they’re expected to be, how they’re expected to behave and what duties and tasks they’re expected to perform.”