Click HERE for report from 6pm newscast

Click HERE for video from the scene

Click HERE for on-scene report from Chris Papst

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UPDATED Friday, July 3, 2009 --- 5:30 p.m.

STOUGHTON, Wis. (AP) -- Five motorcycles in a group driving on Interstate 90 crashed near Stoughton Friday. The Wisconsin State Patrol said five people were injured, one of them critically, in the crash that developed when traffic in front of the cyclists slowed down.

It happened about 10:30 a.m. in the westbound lanes of the interstate. All lanes were blocked for more than an hour, but traffic got moving again shortly before noon.

Jeff Martin is a member of the motorcycling group that was heading to Onalaska for an annual picnic. He said group members are "people who enjoy riding motorcycles and a clean and sober lifestyle."

Some members headed for the hospital to support those injured in the accident.

Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

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UPDATE: Friday, July 3 at 3:00 p.m.

The interstate, south of Madison, was backed up for miles late Friday morning after a multi-vehicle crash that sent four to the hospital with serious injuries. But this affects many more than just those involved.

It happened suddenly without warning.

"What basically happen was one car locked up in front of them," said Jeff Martin who's saw the crash and is a member ARM.

A little after 10:30 a multi-car multi-motorcycle crash happened near mile marker 148 on the interstate just south of Madison. A group of about 25 bikers was heading north.

"With all of our safety seminars and everything else everybody was going into the ditch," he added.

When the vehicles came to rest, four bikers were taken to the hospital with serious injuries -- one by mid-flight.

"We do safety seminars in every chapter and every region. And so it wasn't a lot worse than it was."

The group is from an organization called ARM, which stands for Association for Recovering Motorcyclist, which was founded in Wisconsin in the 1980s. They were heading up to Onalaska for their yearly picnic.

ARM started in La Crosse, Wisconsin and is designed for recovering alcoholics and drug addicts.

Added Martin, "It is just people who enjoy riding motorcycles and a clean and sober lifestyle."

According to its website, ARM has grown to become the largest clean and sober motorcycle association in the world. The biker med-flighted was from Denmark. ARM has this reunion every year with what they call their family. And a crash this bad has never happened.

"We are sending part of the family to the hospital to make sure these people aren't alone and to make sure there is an interpreter with the guy from Denmark and then we'll meet up with the rest of our family and then we just go accordingly," he concluded.

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UPDATED Friday, July 3, 2009 --- 11:55 a.m.

From NBC15's Chris Papst at the scene of the crash:

The motorcyclists are part of an organization called ARM: Association Recovering Motorcyclists. According to its website, ARM is the world's largest clean and sober motorcycle association.

According to its leader at the scene, 25-motorcyclists were headed-up north to celebrate the Fourth of July holiday.

Four people were transported, including one who was rushed to the hospital by Med Flight.

Click HERE for more on the ARM organization

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UPDATED Friday, July 3, 2009 --- 11:45 a.m.

DOT just sent media an all-clear on I-39/90 crash. But traffic cameras still show major backups.

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UPDATED Friday, July 3, 2009 --- 11:30 a.m.

From NBC15's Chris Papst at the scene of the crash:

Up to 5 motorcycles may have been involved in the crash on westbound I-39/90 in Dane County. It occurred near mile marker 146, near Williams Drive.

Traffic is backed-up for several miles. Deputies are diverting traffic onto Highway N. However, the State Patrol says there is no official detour. They recommend drivers avoid the area at this time.

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Incident alert sent to media outlets at 10:44 a.m.

Incident Type: Crash
County: Dane
Highway: WESTBOUND INTERSTATE 39/90
Location: Mile post 145.5
Nearest City: Stoughton
Traffic Status: Significantly delayed
Lanes Affected: All lanes blocked
Expected Duration: Greater than 2 hours
Date: Friday July 3, 2009
Time: 10:27:00 AM

No Detour Route Advised

Additional Info:
Serious injury crash multiple vehicle.
Emergency personnel on scene.
Expect significant delays.