One person was critically injured, and several others were taken to the hospital, said Highway Patrol Sgt. E.L. Thompson.
"Somebody slowed down because of the rain and got-rear-ended," Thompson said. "That started a chain reaction."
Traffic started moving again after about 90 minutes. Traffic in the eastbound lane also resumed a near-normal pace.
The two collisions occurred at mile marker 136, at approximately 12:13 p.m. The first collision involved nine vehicles and resulted from one vehicle hydroplaning out of control and seven vehicles behind it striking each other in a chain reaction.
A full-size Chevrolet pickup truck was loaded with two cases of half-stick dynamite, blasting caps for construction sites that posed no risk at the scene. The truck was owned by Carolina Drilling out of Mocksville.
The second collision involved a three-car chain-reaction collision that occurred about 100 feet behind the first collision.
There was only one critical injury that has been upgraded to serious. The victim underwent surgery at Moses Cone Hospital in Greensboro.
There were several minor injuries.
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