San Diego drivers scramble after armored truck spills money
CARLSBAD, CALIF. – Drivers scrambled for money Friday morning after bags of money fell out of an armored truck on a Southern California highway, authorities said.
The incident happened shortly before 9:15 a.m. on Interstate 5 in Carlsbad as the truck was traveling from San Diego to the offices of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, authorities said.
“One of the doors opened and the bag fell out,” said California Highway Patrol Sergeant. Curtis Martin said.
Some bags burst open, scattering money — mainly $1 and $20 bills — across the lanes and causing chaos on the highway, Martin said.
Videos posted online show some people laughing and jumping as they hold stacks of cash.
Two people were arrested at the scene, and Martin warned that anyone else found taking the money could face criminal charges. He noted that there was a lot of video taken by bystanders at the scene and that the CHP and FBI are investigating.
Anyone taking money is encouraged to bring it to the CHP office in Vista.
Authorities did not immediately say how much money was lost. However, at least a dozen people returned the proceeds to CHP Friday afternoon, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported.
“People are bringing in a lot,” Martin said. “People have a lot of money.”
The highway was reopened just before 11am
.