Drivers across the world have all experienced the embarrassment of accidentally leaving their cup of coffee or laptop bag on the roof of their car and driving off, but leaving $30,000 on your bumper and driving off is probably the worst possible version of that mistake.
According to the Grand Haven Department of Public Safety, officers were called out to a traffic complaint on US-31 after a man accidentally spilled about $30,000 in cash onto the highway Friday afternoon. The money floating around the highway created chaos as motorists pulled over to grab some of the free-floating cash.
"Motorists were stopping to pick up paper currency that had been strewn in the roadway," the department said in a statement Thursday. "Officers temporarily closed traffic lanes and were assisted by witnesses with picking up the money,"
The owner of the money soon returned where he told officers he had been carrying around $30,000 in cash in a cardboard box. The driver said he'd inadvertently left the box on the bumper of his truck and it had fallen off his bumper, sending cash flying everywhere across the roadway.
Officers and other bystanders collected the remaining $2,470 from the road and surrounding areas.
"All money has been removed and treasure hunters are directed to not stop or walk in traffic lanes or any area that would pose a risk," the department's statement warned. The department asked the public to return the funds and it appears some people listened.
On Friday, the department announced that people had been returning some of the cash they found, including one woman who brought in $3,880 and two 17-year-olds who handed in another $630. That leaves around $23,000 still blowing in the wind.
"Thank you and way to go! We commend you for your honesty!! The owner of the money will be grateful," the Facebook statement said.