A driver was struck and killed while getting out of his car to cross a Rhode Island highway where people were seen scrambling to pick up loose cash, according to reports.
Kevin Elliot McCourt stopped his car on I-95 in Providence around 5:40 a.m. Wednesday and had already walked across the southbound lanes when he was fatally struck by a Volkswagen SUV on the northbound side, WJAR reported.
The deadly accident came as civilians and cops were filmed chasing down dollar bills that were flying around on the same highway, NBC News said.
However, police have not yet confirmed if McCourt was killed while trying to grab the loose cash. It was also not clear where the money came from.
Locals were shocked to see money flying around the busy highway, but not surprised people risked their lives to get it.
“I think that’s crazy, is there more money to be found?” Sara Walker of Providence told WJAR. “It’s totally not worth getting out of your car to grab cash.”
“The economy is tough right now, free cash,” said Warwick resident Lauren Senechal Warwick. “I don’t blame anybody for picking it up though.”
Samuel Rhee said: “It’s really sad to hear that someone got hit over all that.
“I hope whoever lost that money didn’t need it too much and it’s real sad for that guy’s family,” he added.
The crash shut down lanes for over an hour, as did a separate crash on the southbound side near Exit 36 B that also had blocked lanes. Traffic had reopened by 7 a.m.
Police said no criminal charges are pending against the SUV driver. The crash remains under investigation.
The Post has reached out to Rhode Island State Police for additional information.
