Pennies from heaven? Maybe $1 million

MIAMI (CNN) -- Dozens of people may have shared in more than $1 million Wednesday morning when a cash-filled Brinks truck overturned and spilled an unknown amount of money onto a Miami street, police said.

One Miami officer called it "pure pandemonium combined with pennies from heaven."

A TV news crew videotaped many of the looters in the act.

While Brinks officials wouldn't say how much money was in the truck, police told CNN they estimate that hundreds of thousands of dollars, and possibly more than $1 million dollars, may be missing.

The truck was driving on an overpass on Interstate 95 during morning rush hour when its brakes locked and it overturned, police said. The truck's back doors flew open, sending money bags, dollar bills, and coins falling to a street below. "The truck literally split open like a sardine can," said Miami Police Lt. Bill Schwartz. (244K/22 sec. AIFF or WAV sound)

(1.8M/41 sec. QuickTime movie)

"It was crazy," said Schwartz. "Hundreds of people were climbing over fences, climbing over each other, fighting for the money."

"They were sticking it in their pockets and bags and boxes and heading for the hills," he said. (221K/20 sec. AIFF or WAV sound)

The three Brinks employees inside were not seriously hurt in the accident.

Brinks officials would not say how much money was in the truck, but Schwartz said officers found one bag with $300,000 in it.

Another bag found nearby was cut open and empty, he said.

"Face it," Schwartz said. "It was a late Christmas for some people."

Police arrived too late so none of those people who fled with arms filled with cash were arrested, he said.

But he said police will be looking for those who got away.

The incident occurred in the poor Overtown section of Miami. And at least one of the looters felt it couldn't have happened in a better place.

"Santa Claus came to the ghetto," said the youth.

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