People Scrambled to Pick Up Loose Cash off the Freeway
The weather forecast in California can be unpredictable. It was raining recently, but instead of water, it was cash. Money rained down on Interstate 5 after two money bags fell out of an armored truck Friday morning. According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), the freeway was completely shut down when drivers got out of their vehicles to scoop up fistfuls of the bills, mainly $1 and $20.
How the Incident Happened
The incident happened on November 19th at about 9:15 am on the northbound I-5 freeway in Carlsbad. Authorities say as the truck was leaving San Diego and heading to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) office in Los Angeles, one of the doors popped open, and bags of cash fell out. With the help of the wind, money spread out to both sides of the freeway. The lanes were reopened shortly before 11 am.
Captured on Social Media
Video footage of the incident shows drivers stopping, getting out of their cars, and collecting some of the money as fast as possible.
CHP Sargeant Curtis Martin said the armored truck driver was able to pick up one of the bags and then started filming people picking up the loose cash. One video shows people laughing and leaping with wads of money in their hands.
Sgt. Martin said they don’t know how much money was taken from the freeway. However, they will be looking at the videos and launching an investigation with the FBI to recover the lost money.
He admits it will take a while to determine the loss, but in the meantime, he urges people who took the money to return it at the CHP office in Vista.
Two Arrested at the Scene
Police wasted no time arresting people at the scene. Two people accused of taking some cash were arrested after they reportedly locked themselves out of their car. According to police, the man and woman had locked their car and then lost their keys while collecting money.
Police warned that those found to have taken the money could face potential criminal charges. The CHP released 16 pictures, and video still frames of those who picked up the money off the freeway. Authorities are encouraging them to turn in the money within 48 hours to avoid criminal charges.
By Friday afternoon, about a dozen people had returned the money to the CHP. Martin wouldn’t say how much was returned but that the armored truck company will count the money.
Watch the YouTube Video: Bags of Money Fall off Armored Truck in SoCal. The video below captures the chaos on the freeway when money fell out of the armored truck.
Truck Accident Lawyers in Roseville, CA
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Photo by SCR3AMFR3AK on Pixabay
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