WUFOD Report#: 2-721-MN

Type of Report:  CE1/Possible CE4:  Close Up Multiple-Witness Sighting with Missing Time.

 

Date of Report:  26 July, 2003

Investigator:  Craig R. Lang

 

Date of Sighting:   Mid to Late Fall, 1980

Place of Sighting:  General area of Lake Elmo, south of I694

Local Evaluation:  Possible CE4.

 

Sighting Background

The witness filed a sighting report via my website (www.craigrlang.com) in July of 2003.  He indicated that he and a friend had this sighting experience in 1980, but that he had delayed filing it until now.  I contacted him within a day of receiving his report and arranged to interview him.  This report describes the results of the interview and any subsequent analysis.

 

Witness Description

The primary witness is a 40 year old male.  His health and hearing are good.  His vision correctable to 20/30 with glasses (this was true also in 1980.  He was wearing them at the time of the sighting).  He indicates that he has had no other UFO sightings.  However, along with his family, he has had several other paranormal events occur.  He has been interested in UFOs since his encounter in 1980, and has read extensively on the topic.

 

Sighting Account

The primary witness and a friend were driving from one work location in St. Paul, MN to another in Hudson, WI.  They left St. Paul at 8:30, and drove west on I94.  At a location where I94 passes through Lake Elmo, MN (he doesn’t remember which cross road they were near), he observed a light in the sky in the southeastern sky at an elevation of about 45 degrees.  He called it to his friend’s attention.  They noted that the light appeared to be stationary, and seemed to be quite close.  They rapidly overtook its position – so that it was now due south of them.  While they had initially thought that the light had a prosaic explanation, such as an airplane, they realized upon closer approach that it was not – and seemed to be a UFO. 

 

Curious, they pulled off onto a dirt road going south [CL Note: it is not clear how one could have simply “turned onto a dirt road” directly from the interstate.  The witness indicates that the road was “just suddenly there”].  They followed the road for a distance of about 1/8 to ¼ of a mile until they were directly underneath the object. 

 

They observed the object hovering over them for several minutes [15 minutes max, but probably more like 5 minutes].  The witness indicates that it was a bright white light with greenish overtones – definitely not a star.  Although bright, it did not cast any light on the ground.  There was no sound from the object.

 

They watched the object from their car, remaining inside the car the whole time.  It suddenly started to maneuver – shooting to the north (across I94) then back “in a millisecond”.  The witness describes the movement as in a flash [CL Note: similar to an afterimage from a camera?], to the north and back, leaving a luminous trail.  It repeated this behavior to the East, then the South, then the West – each time returning to directly overhead.    The primary witness describes their reaction as “blown away” by this display.  It seemed to him like the object was “putting on a show” for them, and could tell that they were watching it. 

 

The witnesses realized that they were dealing with a genuine UFO, and began to get scared.  The primary witness indicated that they decided they had “seen enough – let’s get out of here”.  At that moment, the object appeared to shoot straight up into the air, and disappear – again with a momentary trail of light. 

 

They got back onto I94, and continued on the drive to Hudson, WI.  When they got to their destination (the other location associated with their job), they noted that the time was now 10:15 PM.  [Note: The primary witness didn’t wear a watch at that time in his life, and so was unaware of any time lapse until they arrived at their destination]

 

He describes the drive from St. Paul to Hudson as about 15 minutes.  Thus, the time should have been some time between 8:30 PM and 9:00 PM.  However, it was actually 90 minutes later than that.  He remembered wondering what had happened for the approximately 90 minutes that they had been delayed.

 

Aftermath:

Following this event, the witness became extremely curious about the UFO phenomenon.  Since then, he has read considerably on the subject.  He also developed a strong interest in the sky beginning with this event.  He indicates that on a number of occasions, he has driven out into the country, trying to understand this event.

 

Additional Witnesses: 

The friend of the primary witness was the other person involved in this event.  The name of this friend is known, but his location is not known at the present time.  This person may be interviewed at a future time, as a followup to this event.  [Note: the primary witness indicates that his friend subsequently had little/no memory of the event]

 

In addition, there should have been numerous cars traveling on I94, only a few blocks to the north of their location. 

 

Weather Conditions:

Unknown:  the witness describes the night as warm and clear to partly cloudy, a nice fall evening.

 

Natural or Manmade Phenomena Check:

The null hypothesis for the initial nocturnal light sighting might be that a landing light for an aircraft approaching the airport.  Under the right circumstances, such a light might appear to be stationary for a short period of time.  The description of the light is somewhat reminiscent of a landing light.  However, such a light also would not appear to hover to the south of the highway as they approached it.  It also would not remain stationary directly overhead.  In addition, I know of no non-anomalous explanation for the maneuvers which were described. 

 

Analysis and Possibilities:

The most compelling explanation appears to be that the object was anomalous.   In addition, it must be noted that there was a 90 minute period of missing time associated with the sighting.  Thus, the possibility must be considered that this apparent encounter of the first kind may have been an encounter of the fourth kind.

 

Another factor is the witness’ statement that they turned off from the interstate onto a dirt road.  It is not clear how one could exit I94 in the area of Lake Elmo, without using one of the exit ramps.  In 1980 there may have been some way to get off of the highway, but this is doubtful.  This suggests an event paradox in the experience of the witness(es) similar to those noted in many other close encounter cases (The “Oz Factor”).

Sighting Evaluation:        

Event type is a probable CE1, a close up multiple witness event with missing time and possible reality anomaly.  Thus, given the missing time, this event must be considered as a probable CE4.  

Conclusion:  Unexplained. 

 

Backup Materials:

MUFON Form 1 with interview notes and sketches.

MUFON Form 2 filed on-line in the WUFOD database.