A driver was struck and killed as he exited his car while crossing a highway in Rhode Island, leaving people scrambling to pick up loose cash, according to reports.
Kevin Elliott McCourt was already on the southbound side when he stopped his car on Interstate 95 in Providence around 5:40 a.m. Wednesday and fatally collided with a Volkswagen SUV on the northbound side. I was walking across the lane. Reported by WJAR.
The fatal accident occurred as civilians and police were filmed chasing flying dollar bills on the same highway. NBC News reported.
However, police are yet to confirm whether Mr McCourt died while trying to grab the leaked cash. The source of the funds was also not clear.
Local residents were shocked to see the money flying around on the busy highway, but not those who risked their lives to get their hands on it.
“I know that's crazy, but can we find more money?” Sarah Walker of Providence told WJAR. “It's just not worth getting out of the car to get the cash out.”
“The economy is tough right now. Cash is free,” said Warwick resident Lauren Senechal Warwick. “But I don't blame the person who picked it up.”
“It's really sad to hear that someone got beaten up over something like this,” Samuel Lee said.
“I hope the person who lost that money doesn't need it too much. It's really sad for that person's family,” he added.
The crash closed the lane for more than an hour, and another crash occurred on the southbound side near Exit 36B, which also closed the lane. Traffic had resumed by 7 a.m.
Police said no criminal charges have been filed against the driver of the SUV. This accident is still under investigation.
The newspaper contacted the Rhode Island State Police for additional information.
