Man dumps more than a thousand face masks on Bay Area freeway. Several stopped to pick them up

[Demovictory9]

https://www.sfgate.com/coronavirus/article/thousand-medical-face-masks-thrown-on-I880-15235850.php

More than a thousand blue-and-white paper medical masks were strewn across southbound Interstate 880 on Wednesday afternoon — the result of an unknown male adult stopping in the middle of traffic lanes to dump boxes full of them onto the pavement, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Officers responded to several calls about 1:39 p.m. concerning debris in the roadway on I-880 just south of Whipple Road in Union City, CHP Officer Damian Cistaro told SFGATE. When authorities arrived on the scene, they discovered "a thousand plus" masks in the roadway. Meanwhile, several drivers had stopped their vehicles so they could pick up the masks, said Officer Dustin Kennerly.

CalTrans was called to the scene to sweep the roadway. All lanes were stopped for approximately 5 to 10 minutes and opened again at 2:49 p.m.

The man who was seen dumping the masks has not yet been identified. He was reportedly seen in a white truck.

"We obviously don’t advise people to stop on a freeway and retrieve these things," said Kennerly. "Reports say this guy had boxes of masks and was dumping them, but there were no markings on the box. These people didn't know if the masks were brand new or previously used."

Hundreds of leftover masks retrieved by officers were discarded.

[BigmanPigman]

1. What an idiotic thing to do. Why?

Did he intend to waste them? Did he really think that doing this would be helpful?

[Hermit-The-Prog]

2. I would worry about more sinister intent, since he dumped them on a freeway.

Possibly contaminated masks or maybe he wanted to see wrecks.

[BigmanPigman]

3. That's exactly what I was thinking.

Not only contaminated but also a traffic accident in the making.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

4. Brain damaged -- he mixed a syringe with clorox for covid and windex for windmill cancer.

[peacebuzzard]

5. why would anyone pick up an unknown source masks?

They are hard to find, I have been reusing a painters mask I bought years ago, but still, I want to know where its coming from before I put it on my face.

[rampartc]

6. i was glad to find that little pack if masks in the box with my rollers and scrapers

but i would like a doz or 2 n95s when i can find them.

who knows about masks found on a highway? might be out of a hospital dumpster.

[peacebuzzard]

9. Do you know if hardware stores are selling masks?

I have given up looking for certain supplies like alcohol, I finally found a bottle of Clorox at Aldi's after weeks of searching.
Now that I hardly go out anymore, except for a 1 time a week shopping, I have just been reusing my painters mask. Would like another one if I knew where to get it.

[rampartc]

10. none of the hardware stores near me have them

amazon has "not available - priority to medical practice" on all of theirs.

[Wounded Bear]

7. I think that was my order of masks...

Seriously, I've got like $50 worth of orders for PPE-masks and glove-that seem to be lost in shipping limbo somewhere. Probably in shipments that Jared stole.

[Marrah_Goodman]

8. What a fucking waste