Millions of dollars in loonies and toonies scattered over a section of Highway 11 are under guard by provincial police after a serious multiple-vehicle accident north of Kirkland Lake on Tuesday.

The load of coins is unofficially reported to be worth at least $3 million and OPP Inspector Mark Andrews said Wednesday there were unconfirmed reports of some passersby helping themselves.

“There is lots of security there now,” he said, adding the road was not expected to be opened until late Wednesday or early Thursday.

Andrews said two occupants of a Brinks tractor trailer are in serious condition in hospital after it went out of control and struck a rock face shortly before 4 a.m.

Related: See more photos of the crash

The Brinks truck was then struck by a van and a tractor trailer, which spilled its cargo of candies on the roadway.

“We weren’t able to get the second person out the Brinks vehicle until well after 8 a.m. It took quite a bit of time to cut them out,” he said.

Andrews said the two vehicles tried to avoid the wrecked Brinks truck but ended up smashing into it just south of Ramore, between Kirkland Lake and South Porcupine. The occupants of the second tractor trailer and the van escaped serious injury.

“Armoured vehicles have been involved in collisions before but they are usually not compromised so that may give you an indication of the severity of the impact,” said Andrews, a 28-year veteran of the OPP.

“We have never had a high value load like this spilled … we have never had a Brinks truck of any nature ever split open on us before.”

An industry source told the Star that Brinks and other security firms use tractor trailers for hauling coins intra-provincially because of the weight.

Andrews said northbound traffic was being rerouted to Highway 17. In addition, police also called the provincial environment ministry because the truck’s saddle tanks ruptured spilling diesel fuel.

Andrews told the Star “we were told anecdotally that there may have been some people, when things initially started to unfold,” who helped themselves to some coins “but I am hoping that it was more speculation than it was fact.”

“I am really hopeful that proves to be a falsehood that people weren’t jamming stuff into their pockets while there were people screaming for help,” he said.

In the meantime, Brinks has found a solution to salvage the coins.

“They are definitely using a large magnet to pick up the coins,” said Andrews.

Brinks could not be reached for comment.

Update: Brinks truck: Giant magnet being used to pick up coins; one employee fighting for life