An 18-wheeler truck carrying freshly minted dimes for the U.S. Mint overturned on U.S. Route 287 near Alvord, Texas, spilling part of its load of eight million dimes across the highway. The accident occurred shortly before sunrise, causing the southbound lanes of the highway to be closed for approximately 14 hours as cleanup crews worked with vacuum trucks, shovels, and hands to retrieve the scattered coins. The driver and passenger of the truck sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were treated and released from a hospital. Mayor Caleb Caviness noted the unusual cleanup method using vacuum trucks typically used for sewage, and mentioned a recent meeting discussing potential increased police presence due to speeding issues at the accident site. The accident sparked local rumors of a larger spill value, but the actual amount was $800,000 in dimes, not the $8 million that was initially speculated by residents.

An 18-wheeler transporting eight million dimes for the U.S. Mint overturned on U.S. Route 287 in Alvord, Texas, spilling coins across the roadway, with the accident occurring just before dawn.

Cleanup operations lasted about 14 hours, involving vacuum trucks, shovels, and manual efforts to collect the dispersed dimes, allowing the highway to eventually reopen.

The truck's driver and passenger sustained minor injuries and were released from the hospital, and no other injuries were reported from the incident.

Mayor Caleb Caviness highlighted the unconventional use of sewage vacuum trucks in the cleanup and mentioned a preceding discussion about enhancing police presence due to speeding concerns at the accident location.

The truck was owned by Western Distributing Transportation Corp., which specializes in transporting secure cargo for government entities and described its vehicles as fully armored with armed personnel.

Initial town rumors exaggerated the spill as $8 million in dimes; however, the actual amount involved was $800,000, with much of the cleanup obscured from public view by local geography.

Despite the significant coin spill, no large crowds gathered at the site, and minor flooding from heavy rain likely helped wash away remaining loose coins.