CA Cash Grabbing Motorists Sought By CHP, FBI

CARLSBAD, CA — A man and a woman were detained after they reportedly grabbed cash off the freeway after it spilled from an armored truck following a minor traffic collision in Carlsbad on Friday.

On Sunday, the FBI and California Highway Patrol were still searching for the motorists who pulled over on the San Diego freeway to scoop up piles of currency.

The frenzy caused a major traffic jam on Interstate 5 just before 9:15 a.m. as drivers scrambled to grab the piles of currency. Authorities have warned drivers to return the money or face potential criminal charges.

The two unidentified people were released at the scene Friday and not charged, the CHP said.

A man and woman who allegedly took some of the cash were detained at the scene of the mishap, which happened at about 9:15 a.m. Friday on the northbound lanes of the freeway at Cannon Road in Carlsbad, according to the CHP.

"Many of the motorists returned the money immediately to the officers; however, there were motorists observed driving from the scene with stolen money," The California Highway Patrol and the Federal Bureau of Investigation said in a joint statement, according to NBC News. "The CHP would like to thank those motorists who have already returned money to their local CHP office and remind the public to do the right thing and return any money they found on the freeway."

CHP officials warned those who picked up the cash were likely to be identified via the video images recorded by bystanders and could face theft charges.

"It's better for them to do the honesty policy than to wait for us to track them down and knock on their door," CHP Sgt. Curtis Martin said.

Anyone who pocketed some of the cash was urged to turn the money in at the CHP's northern San Diego-area station at 435 La Tortuga Drive in Vista.

Photos posted to social media showed drivers grabbing handfuls of the strewn bills.

"This is the most insane thing I have ever seen," San Diego fitness influencer Demi Bagby said in an Instagram video.

READ MORE: Truck Spews Money On SD Freeway; Drivers Scramble To Grab Cash