HARTFORD, Conn. _ More than 100 people were hospitalized and another 50 were charged with underage drinking during a Chance the Rapper concert on Friday night in Hartford, according to Hartford police and fire officials.
A typical concert in the city may see 60 people transported for alcohol and drug use, Hartford Fire Capt. Raul Ortiz said. But on Friday, the "constant cycling of transports" overwhelmed the department.
Hartford's ambulance provider had to call in additional resources and some patients had to be taken to hospitals in other cities, Ortiz said.
"When it's at this level, you're tapping into all your resources in the area," he said.
A large number of the patients were underage concertgoers experiencing "severe intoxication," said Deputy Chief Brian Foley, who added that more than 90 people were transported.
Ortiz said his department's incident commander thought the number was even higher, estimating that more than 100 people were brought to hospitals.
Thirty alone were taken to Hartford Hospital.
Connecticut Children's Medical Center in Hartford saw at least 15 patients from the concert, mainly teenagers, including a 19-year-old male with a blood-alcohol content of nearly 0.5, said John Brancato, assistant director of the hospital's pediatric emergency department.
That's eight times the legal limit for driving. The teen was so intoxicated he had to be restrained and nearly intubated _ having a tube inserted to help with breathing _ said Brancato, who was working Friday night. He eventually was admitted to the intensive care unit for close monitoring.
"It's just crazy," Brancato said. "It's not like adult social drinking, where you're out with friends or family and you have a glass of wine or beer, or two, or three.
