By Troy Landon, Senior Correspondent
A tractor-trailer carrying approximately $800,000 in dimes overturned on U.S. Highway 287 near Alvord, Texas, on May 11, 2025, resulting in a massive coin spill and a temporary highway shutdown. The incident sent millions of dimes scattering across the roadway, prompting a full-scale emergency response and intense public curiosity.
Coin Cargo Overturns During Early Morning Transport
The truck was reportedly en route to deliver the coins to a Federal Reserve facility when it lost control and flipped onto its side, rupturing its trailer and unleashing a deluge of loose currency across multiple lanes. Officials believe the weight distribution of the cargo may have contributed to the loss of control.
The crash occurred just before sunrise, catching early commuters off guard and leading to the closure of several lanes. No injuries were reported, but the scale of the cleanup made it one of the more unusual transportation incidents in recent Texas memory.
Cleanup Crews Retrieve Millions of Dimes
Crews from state and federal agencies arrived on the scene shortly after the crash. Using a mix of industrial sweepers and manual collection techniques, workers spent the entire day—and part of the next—gathering up the dimes.
With each coin worth just ten cents, the small size and sheer volume created a tedious retrieval process. Officials estimate that nearly four tons of dimes, or around 8 million coins, were scattered by the crash.
The highway remained partially closed throughout the effort, with detours set up to manage diverted traffic.
Social Media Buzz and Curious Onlookers
Word of the dime spill quickly spread across social media, drawing locals to the site. Images and videos of shimmering coins lining the pavement went viral, sparking widespread fascination with the rare event.
Some onlookers attempted to collect dimes from the highway, prompting warnings from law enforcement. Officers patrolling the scene made it clear that removing federal currency from a crash site could be considered theft.
Crowd control became a secondary task for responders, who were focused primarily on completing the cleanup and securing the site.
Federal Oversight and Currency Transport Questions
The Federal Reserve, which confirmed the shipment as part of a routine interbank transfer, launched an internal review to assess losses and verify coin recovery. The agency emphasized that incidents of this nature, while uncommon, point to the need for rigorous safety standards during currency transport.
The crash has sparked broader discussions about the methods used to move physical currency between banks and institutions. Experts have suggested enhanced vehicle stabilization systems and GPS-based tracking could reduce the risks associated with such shipments.
Legislative and Insurance Implications
Texas state officials indicated they may review transportation policies in light of the accident, particularly those related to heavy and high-value cargo. There is growing interest in whether additional safety regulations or new transport technologies could mitigate the risk of similar incidents.
The freight company involved is expected to file an insurance claim for the damaged cargo and may also face scrutiny for transport practices and vehicle maintenance standards.
Next Steps and Ongoing Investigation
Authorities continue to investigate the precise cause of the crash. Driver records, vehicle conditions, and road factors are all being analyzed to determine liability and inform potential policy changes.
A full report from transportation and safety officials is expected later this summer. In the meantime, the dime spill serves as a vivid reminder of the unexpected challenges that can arise in routine logistics.
