Tractor-trailer overturns, spills 8 million dimes on Texas highway

A tractor-trailer carrying approximately $800,000 in dimes overturned near Alvord, Texas, spilling around 8 million coins onto U.S. 287 and closing the highway for about 14 hours as workers used industrial vacuums, brooms, shovels, and even their hands to recover the scattered money. The accident occurred when the driver veered off the road and overcorrected, causing the vehicle—operated by Western Distributing Transportation Corporation, known for transporting valuable government cargo—to roll onto its side. Both the driver and a passenger sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were hospitalized. Cleanup efforts recovered most of the coins, but some were likely lost, particularly due to rain and coins becoming buried in soil. The unusual incident drew local attention, with some confusion over the total value spilled, but officials confirmed it was about $800,000 in new dimes. Neither the U.S. Mint nor the transportation company issued an official statement about the accident.