Rhode Island State Police troopers pick up cash dropped by a pedestrian who was struck along I-95 in Providence (WJAR/YouTube).
Drivers with some sticky fingers dashed out of their cars to grab cash that was fluttering along a Rhode Island highway after an SUV struck and killed a driver who had bolted out of his car to run across the highway while carrying a bunch of loose money, according to cops.
According to Rhode Island State Police, 61-year-old Kevin Elliot McCourt of Florida stopped his car and pulled over around 5:41 a.m. Nov. 6 near the Barton Street exit on southbound Interstate 95 in Providence. McCourt, carrying wads of cash, then ran out in the middle of the highway where an SUV hit and killed him, troopers told local NBC affiliate WJAR.
Cash flew all over the highway and before troopers could start collecting it, passersby exited their vehicles for some free money. NBC News posted video of motorists dodging cars to pick up the money. Troopers didn’t say if the people were aware that they were taking cash that belonged to a man who was just struck and killed.
Some people did return the money, but cops have no way of tracing all the cash, Providence CBS affiliate WPRI reported.
It’s not clear why McCourt was carrying the money or how much cash he had on hand. News cameras captured troopers along the highway collecting the money as evidence. Traffic was halted for over an hour. The incident remains under investigation.
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WJAR talked to some local residents about their thoughts on the incident. Opinion was mixed as to whether people should have gotten out of the vehicles to take the money.
“It’s really sad to hear that someone got hit over all of that,” Samuel Rhee told WJAR. “I hope whoever lost that money didn’t need it too much and it’s real sad for that guy’s family.”
Others disagreed.
“The economy is tough right now, free cash,” said Lauren Senechal Warwick. “I don’t blame anybody for picking it up though.”
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