Man repays $500,000 in insurance awarded for death of son with four tonnes of quarters

The quarters were in 150 separate bags each weighing 50 pounds and containing $1,000 worth of quarters

The coins were being delivered to two local law firms by Roger Herrin, of Harrisburg, Ill., who was paying off a portion of a court-ordered legal settlement with nearly four tons of quarters (AP)

A US man angry at having to repay $500,000 insurance money he received after the death of his son in a car crash caused chaos at law offices in Southern Illinois after he decided to pay $150,000 of it in quarters.

Roger Herrin's son Michael died in a car crash in 2001. He was in the vehicle with three other people when it was hit by a truck that failed to stop at an junction.

Michael Herrin was the only one of four passengers who died so his father received the bulk of the $800,000 settlement from the car's insurers.

Mr Herrin also received $1.65 million in other insurance payments.

However, the other families involved in the incident contested the damages and a legal battle ensued.

Following the row Mr Herrin was ordered to return $500,000 of the money.

Mr Herrin delivered part of the payment via truck to the local law offices in Southern Illinois.

The quarters were in 150 separate bags each weighing 50 lbs and containing $1,000 worth of quarters.

When asked the reason why he paid in quarters Mr Herrin told WSIL: "Because I couldn't do it in pennies."

"They can have all the money in the world, and I'd take my son back,” Herrin told WSIL. “To support, my deceased son and ex-wife, I have to fight it to the very end, and this is the final end.”