California: Van door opens on highway, motorists pounce on tickets

Motorists could not believe their eyes when they saw a rain of banknotes on a highway near San Diego in California (United States), Friday morning. Many rushed to collect it, but police warned they were forced to bring the money back or face prosecution.

The scene took place about 200 kilometers from Hollywood, but it was not a movie. The door of an armored funds transport van opened while it was traveling on interstate 5 (a freeway, editor’s note), near the town of Carlsbad, north of San Diego. “Bags of money have fallen” on the road, confirmed the spokesperson for the California Highway Patrol (the highway police, editor’s note) Curtis Martin, to the local channel NBC 7.

On amateur videos, it is possible to see many motorists who got out of their car to collect as many tickets as possible. They were everywhere on the road. The total amount of these banknotes which were spread out in the middle of the road is not known. An investigation has been opened to determine how this accident happened.

More footage of large amounts of cash spread out all over the I-5 freeway in Carlsbad. @DemiBagby shared these videos as she traffic was brought to a dead stop. pic.twitter.com/Djn0IoqP91

– KUSI News (@KUSINews) November 19, 2021

Police give thieves 48 hours

The police have warned: we will have to bring this money back. “The California Highway Patrol would like to thank motorists who have already returned money to their local police station, reminds the public to do the right thing and return the money they found on the freeway.”, launched Curtis Martin, who gave 48 hours to all those concerned, adding that searches have been launched to identify the license plates of the vehicles present. Beyond these two days, thieves expose themselves to potential criminal charges, police added.

In 2018, in the state of New Jersey, similar events occurred. Bundles of $ 100 had fallen on the road, for a total of $ 500,000. Just over $ 200,000 had been recovered alone.