Drivers help themselves after $45k of cash falls off truck on Michigan motorway

Drivers helped themselves to a box of cash that fell onto a Michigan motorway.
Drivers helped themselves to a box of cash that fell onto a Michigan motorway. Photo credit: File

Motorists driving down a Michigan motorway were in for a lucrative surprise when a box of money fell off the back of a truck.

The truck driver had mistakenly left a cardboard box containing about US$30,000 (NZ$45,000) on the vehicle's bumper. As they made their way down the north-bound US31 in Grand Haven on Thursday evening (local time), the box fell onto the road and was quickly seized upon.

Drivers slammed on their brakes to grab the cash as it spilled out onto the motorway, causing traffic to build up. Soon all the money was gone and the thieves had fled the scene.

Just US$3550 (NZ$5330) was recovered by witnesses and police officers and immediately returned to the owner.

Now local police are demanding the light-fingered motorists return any cash they took.

In a Facebook post, the Grand Haven Department of Public Safety said two 17-year-old boys had turned in US$630 (NZ$945) of the motorway money, while a woman had returned a whopping US$3880 (NZ$5820).

"We commend you for your honesty!" the post read. "The owner of the money will be grateful."

Facebook commenters also praised those who had returned money, with some saying it was "awesome" to see integrity and honesty when it would be easy to keep the cash for themselves.

Anyone else who pocketed some of the lost loot is asked to turn it in to the police department.

Newshub.