The five-motorcycle crash on Interstate 39-90 on Friday that injured five people—one critically—came as motorcycle deaths in the state continue to rise compared with previous years.

As of June 30, Wisconsin had 46 motorcycle fatalities compared with 28 at the same time a year ago, according to the state Department of Transportation.

Last year "was one of our safer years .. but the general trend has been going up, up and up," said Maj. Dan Lonsdorf, director of the State Patrol’s Bureau of Transportation Safety. "This year .... motorcycle fatalities are (occurring) at a rate even higher than 2007."

According to the State Patrol, 60 members of a motorcycle group were traveling north in the left lane of the Interstate around 10:30 a.m. Friday when riders were not able to slow down for slower traffic and crashed into motorcycles ahead of them.

Five people were injured, including Frank Hansen, 47 of the country of Denmark. He was taken via Med Flight to UW Hospital, where he was in critical condition with life-threatening injuries. Three other Danes, Ivonne Hansen, 45; Per Carlsen, 36; and Gizur Ing Helgason, 22; and Susan A. Kocher, 34 of Jackson, were taken to UW Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Alcohol was not a factor and traffic was flowing again along Interstate 39-90 south of Madison near Highway MN late Friday morning, according to the State Patrol.

Lonsdorf said his department has been tracking this year’s motorcycle crash and fatality data, which shows "a tremendous number" of those involved did not have the motorcycle endorsement on their driver’s license. Many were not wearing proper gear such as helmets and boots, and about half of the crashes involved alcohol.

The State Patrol did not say if the people involved in Friday’s crash were wearing helmets or were properly licensed.

Lonsdorf said drivers should avoid cutting between motorcyclists when drivers encounter a group of them.

Motorcyclists in groups may pass signals back and forth and, if split, the cyclists in the back may drive riskily to catch up, he said.

State Journal reporter Patricia Simms contributed to this article.