Over $500K spilled from Brinks truck

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — More than half a million dollars spilled from an armoured truck onto a New Jersey highway, and nearly US$300,000 remained missing a day later, police said Friday.

East Rutherford police said that two bags of cash fell from a Brinks truck near MetLife Stadium on Thursday. One of the plastic bags had $140,000. The other carried $370,000.

Police say the bags fell from an open rear door that had a mechanical issue. Authorities said the bags opened when they hit the roadway, becoming airborne because of the wind and vehicle traffic.

The swirling cash led drivers to stop their vehicles and hop out on the highway to gather the money. There were two car crashes as a result, according to police, though it’s unclear if anyone was injured.

Police say Brinks workers and other motorists recovered about $205,000 from the roadway. Five people turned in about $11,000.