A few unlucky motorists in Henrico County, VA, discovered the fastest way possible to paint a car - a massive paint spill. Just before noon on September 11th, 2023, a large truck hauling hundreds of gallons of white paint lost control of its cargo.

And while thankfully, no one was injured, a few innocent vehicles - including a black SUV -  were smothered in thick white paint when a few of the barrels went airborne.

Mario Torres, who witnessed the incident, spoke to local news agencies, stating, “I thought it was like soap.” Continuing, “It got everywhere… I’m just thankful that nobody got killed.”

Allegedly, the vehicle hauling the paint ran a red light and had to make an abrupt stop, causing some of the unsecured barrels to fly free from the truck’s bed. 

Experts advise drivers affected by incidents like this not to attempt to clean their vehicles themselves and to contact both their local police department and insurance companies. These steps will ensure that any damage is covered by insurance and that the environment impact of the spill is minimized.

The Henrico police department reported that the driver hauling the paint was charged with failure to secure a load. A first-degree gross misdemeanor that is punishable by up to one year in prison or a $3,000 fine. 

Photo courtesy Henrico Police Department