MONONA, Wis. — A serious traffic incident unfolded late Wednesday night on the eastbound Beltline, involving four vehicles, including a semitrailer, which resulted in four individuals being hospitalized.
The collision, which occurred around 10:57 p.m. in a construction zone, led one vehicle to overturn, as reported by the Monona Police Department. A 65-year-old driver sustained serious injuries and is currently in stable condition after being transported to a local hospital.
According to the Monona Fire Department, all other injuries in the incident are deemed non-life-threatening. Due to the severity of the injuries and the involvement of a large commercial vehicle, the Wisconsin State Patrol dispatched crash reconstructionists to investigate the scene.
The eastbound lanes of the Beltline were closed for approximately seven hours, reopening around 6 a.m. on September 3. Emergency responders were supported by several agencies, including the Dane County Sheriff's Office, Madison Police Department, McFarland Police Department, Wisconsin State Patrol, Fitch-Rona EMS, Madison Fire, and Dane County 911.
Chief Brian Chaney expressed relief that no fatalities occurred, extending wishes for a full recovery to those injured. “We are working diligently to piece together all that occurred,” he stated. This crash marks the second serious incident along the Beltline in Monona within the same week. With some areas serving as a route for up to 145,000 vehicles daily, the Beltline is one of the busiest highways in the Madison region.
“We WILL stop and cite drivers who choose to drive dangerously along our stretch of the Beltline,” Chaney added, underscoring the department's commitment to safety on this critical roadway.