Pack says there were 20 minor injuries but no fatalities. He says it's not clear what caused the first pileup.

>> Read more trending stories

The first crash happened around 6 p.m. during strong storms and troopers said rubberneckers contributed to the others.

One woman who narrowly avoided a crash explained what happened.

“Basically the sun was shining on the road and there was a light rain and it was so bright on the road, there was a glare and everybody had to come to a halt,” she said.

Drivers said they saw so many tow trucks they lost count.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation reported around 8:45 p.m. that I-40 West/I-85 South was closed at an exit near Burlington. It reopened around 11:15 p.m.

About the Author

Featured

Students line up after school for school buses at Sequoyah Middle School in Doraville on Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025. The school’s principal told teachers not to talk to students about ICE, and teachers and activists are pushing back. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Credit: arvin.temkar@ajc.com