When all was said and done, more than 50 cars were involved in crashes that happened within minutes and within a single mile of each other on southbound I-85 and westbound I-40.
"We had incidents at three or four locations at one time," Sgt. M.A. Rutledge of the N.C. Highway Patrol said.
Troopers said it all started after two cars got into a minor accident. The sudden slowdown caused a 30 car pileup, and then it was a domino effect of crashes.
An RV also caught on fire in the middle of the traffic jam.
"We think it was drivers following too close, not able to stop," Rutledge said. "Once something happens, they have no where to go. Start putting on brakes and changing lanes -- and it's mêlée there on the inerstate."
There was at least one serious injury, troopers said, and about a dozen people suffered minor injuries.
Troopers said that although weather was a factor in the pileup, some drivers would face charges.
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