Giant inflatable Minion blocks highway in Ireland

DUBLIN, Ireland, Aug. 3 (UPI) -- Baffled motorists north of Dublin, Ireland, reported being delayed by a bizarre traffic hazard -- a giant inflatable Minion that blew into the road.

The Minion, a character from the Despicable Me films and the Minions spin-off, was swept away from its spot at a fair by a gust of wind and carried to into the middle of a busy road.

"I'm not sure how it got loose but I just saw it coming loose and flying across the road as we were driving," motorist Erin Van Londen told TheJournal.ie. "It's been very windy in the area."

Van Loden said she reported the hazard to the Irish national police.

"I actually rang the gardai. It was quite an odd thing to have to report," she said.

The Minion, which had been inflated for a local funfair, was eventually deflated and carried away.

Police said a motorist's side mirror was damaged by the inflatable character.

"Escaped Minion at Omni in Santry may seem hilarious but its a dispicable breach of health & safety," Dublin City Councilor Paul McAuliffe tweeted.