30 vehicles involved in massive accident scene on I-540 in Raleigh

According to investigators, nine people were taken to the hospital with “very minor injuries.” An additional 13 people were checked out at the scene and refused to be transported.

Traffic was backed up for miles as responders began to attend to the scene.

The Highway Patrol says they are investigating 10 separate crashes at the scene.

Sean Scott was a driver caught in the middle of the scene, and says weather played a role.

"It was pouring raining and the sun was coming out," Scott said. "Everybody started slamming on their brakes. The guy ahead of me slammed on his. I slammed on mine. Whoever was behind me drove off onto the side of the road."

Saul Garcia was a passenger in an 18-wheeler and says he told the driver to pull off into the ditch as they approached all the brake lights. He agrees with Scott that a combination of sunshine and rain contributed to the difficult driving conditions.

"We would have crashed," Garcia said. "The sun in the water, it was taking our sight."