What looked like a jumbled mess Sunday on Interstate 85 after a tractor-trailer collided with a vehicle and left its load dangling over the Yadkin River bridge was actually three collisions, N.C. Highway Patrol officials said Monday.

The three crashes involved a total of 10 vehicles, said 1st Sgt. G.A. Barger.

The accident occurred just after 1 p.m. and led to a shutdown of several lanes for about four hours and a detour of traffic onto U.S. 29 at Exit 84 in Davidson County. The accident was investigated by the Motor Carrier Division of the Highway Patrol and a Davidson County trooper.

Barger said a 2010 Infinity passenger car driven by Andre Derain Roberts, 59, of Marietta, Georgia, slowed down for an unknown reason in the southbound lane and ran into a Honda sport utility vehicle that then vehicle struck a Subaru.

Roberts was charged with failure to reduce speed.

One of the drivers took the exit ramp, went to a nearby gas station and called to notify troopers about the collision. The other drivers’ names were not immediately available.

Traffic became backed up, and a passenger vehicle collided with the tractor-trailer, whose driver was trying to avoid the previous collision. He jerked the steering wheel to the right and struck a nearby vehicle.

Barger said the tractor-trailer was loaded with windows and doors. The weight of the load apparently sent the trailer over the bridge, splitting the trailer.

It took a wrecker several hours to right the trailer. Barger said the rear door of the trailer flew open, but the contents were contained.

Five vehicles behind the tractor-trailer were unable to avoid the crash and colliding with each other.

“We were taking four lanes of interstate traffic and sending it onto a two-lane road,” Barger said.

The tractor-trailer driver and passenger received minor injuries and were taken to a nearby hospital as a precaution.