A tragic accident unfolded on a Rhode Island highway when a driver lost his life after exiting his vehicle to cross the busy lanes, reportedly in an attempt to retrieve scattered cash. According to local reports, Kevin Elliot McCourt had stopped his car on Interstate 95 in Providence early Wednesday morning.
After safely crossing the southbound lanes, he was fatally struck by a Volkswagen SUV as he attempted to cross the northbound side at approximately 5:40 a.m.
The incident, covered by WJAR, happened amidst a chaotic scene where both bystanders and police officers were seen scrambling to gather loose dollar bills flying across the highway. Footage shared by NBC News captured the surreal moment as cash scattered over the road, drawing people onto the highway in pursuit of the money.
The combination of early-morning traffic and the frantic effort to collect the bills contributed to a tragic outcome on I-95 that morning.
Mystery Surrounds Fatal Highway Accident Amid Cash Chaos
However, authorities have not confirmed whether Kevin Elliot McCourt was attempting to gather the scattered cash when he was struck, and the origin of the money remains unknown. The sight of loose bills drifting across the busy I-95 startled many locals, although some weren’t surprised that people risked their safety to retrieve it.
“I think that’s crazy. Is there more money to be found?” remarked Sara Walker, a Providence resident, in an interview with WJAR. “It’s totally not worth getting out of your car to grab cash.”
❗️Accident: in #Providence on 95 North at EX 37B Broadway
— Krystin Rae (@KRaeTrafficWJAR) November 4, 2024
🚫Two lanes closed
Slow moving northbound travel
In a challenging economy, the sight of free cash can be hard to ignore, said Lauren Senechal of Warwick. “I don’t blame anybody for picking it up, though,” she added.
Samuel Rhee expressed sadness over the tragic incident. “It’s really sad to hear that someone got hit over all that,” he said. “I hope whoever lost that money didn’t need it too much, and it’s real sad for that guy’s family.”
Fatal Accident and Cash Scattering Lead to Hour-Long Shutdown on I-95
The accident led to the closure of several lanes on I-95 for more than an hour, creating significant delays. A separate incident on the southbound side, near Exit 36B, also caused lane blockages, adding to the traffic congestion. By around 7 a.m., both directions had fully reopened to vehicles.
Police have stated that no criminal charges are currently expected against the driver of the SUV involved in the fatal collision. The tragic incident is still under investigation as authorities work to understand the exact circumstances.
The Rhode Island State Police have yet to provide further details.
