Dimes were scattered across U.S. 81/287 after a rollover accident involving an 18-wheeler 5:30 a.m. Tuesday morning in Alvord. On Tuesday afternoon, southbound traffic on the highway remained closed as crews worked through the extensive coin collection process. AUSTIN JACKSON | WCMESSENGER
A tiny coin has caused a big problem in Alvord.
An 18-wheeler hauling millions of freshly minted dimes overturned across the southbound lanes of U.S. 81/287 early Tuesday morning, shutting down the highway for 14 hours near Farm Road 1655 in Alvord.
The driver veered off the roadway and overcorrected, causing the 18-wheeler to roll onto its side, said Sgt. Tony De La Cerda, a spokesperson for the Texas Department of Public Safety. Wise County EMS Chief Randall Preuninger said crews were dispatched to the scene at 5:34 a.m. The driver and passenger were transported with non-life threatening injuries to Medical City Decatur, according to DPS.
Preuninger said the two men were in stable condition.
A DPS trooper at the scene said there were reportedly 8 million dimes in the load. Clean-up crews were using vacuums leading into a special truck to dredge up the loose change, also sifting through the dirt by hand to account for the approximately $800,000 payload.
Street sweepers were also making passes on the highway as a a line of southbound traffic stretched north of Alvord, with TxDOT crews directing vehicles around the scene.
A United States Armored Co. employee tosses a clump of dirt saturated in dimes along U.S. 81/287 in Alvord after a rollover caused a currency spill near Alvord High School. AUSTIN JACKSON | WCMESSENGER
Personnel with United States Armored Company (USAC) uniforms assisted during the clean up. USAC is a division of Western Distributing Transportation Corp., a company that specializes in transporting government cargo. The 18-wheeler appeared to be a Western Distributing Transportation truck, with their branding on the trailer.
Since some drivers passing by shared concerns, Wise County Emergency Management Coordinator Cody said he wanted to assure the public that the accident did not involve hazardous materials, adding that clean up crews were just gathering coins and clearing the roadway.
The scene was cleared and the highway was reopened at around 7:30 p.m.
Traffic backs up north of Alvord as TxDOT crews direct traffic around the portion of U.S. 81/287 near Farm Road 1655 that is shut down due to a currency spill. AUSTIN JACKSON | WCMESSENGER
The 18-wheeler laid horizontal across U.S. 81/287 for hours Tuesday after the rollover accident. It has since been loaded up for transport. AUSTIN JACKSON | WCMESSENGER
Dimes in the dirt. AUSTIN JACKSON | WCMESSENGER
AUSTIN JACKSON | WCMESSENGER
The Wise County Messenger has reached out to the U.S. Department of the Treasury for additional details.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
An 18-wheeler hauling dimes rolled over on U.S. 81/287 near Alvord High School Tuesday morning, causing lengthy traffic delays. COURTESY | JUSTIN MEREDITH
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