$2 million missing after cash spill on Hong Kong road

HONG KONG, Dec. 24 (UPI) -- A security van in Hong Kong spilled bundles of banknotes across a major road Wednesday, paralyzing traffic and igniting a scramble by passers-by to collect the money.

About 35 million Hong Kong dollars ($4.5 million), including 500-dollar ($65) banknotes were strewn across the eight-lane Gloucester Road in Hong Kong's Wan Chai area after three crates of new banknotes fell from the back of the van. Witnesses said dozens of people left their cars and wandered the road, picking up the banknotes.

The majority of the money was recovered, but about $15 million ($2 million) remains missing.

"Anyone who picked up the cash concerned should hand it over to the police as soon as possible," police officer, Wan Siu-hong said Radio Television Hong Kong reported. "Otherwise, they may have committed the crime of theft."

He added police believe the money fell accidentally from the back of the vehicle. "We believe the money was dropped. We cannot rule out any possibilities at this moment," the South China Morning Post reported he said. The newspaper quoted an eyewitness describing "a regular-looking Hong Kong lady" with "an armful of bricks of cash. It was as much as she could carry. She just disappeared into the depths of Wan Chai."