The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

THE STORY OF BLOOD ROAD

OUT IN THE HILLS NEAR ORTONVILLE, MICHIGAN THERE IS A ROAD THAT
PEOPLE NOW CALL BLOOD ROAD. THE ROAD IS VERY SECLUDED WAY OUT IN
THE COUNTRY AND LINED WITH HUGE TREES. ONE NIGHT A YOUNG COUPLE
WHO HAD BEEN OUT TO A PARTY WERE GOING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN THEIR
CAR BROKE DOWN. THE YOUNG MAN TRIED TO START IT AGIAN BUT NOTHING
HAPPENED SO HE DECIDED TO WALK 15 OR SO MILES BACK TO THE NEAREST
HOUSE AND CALL FOR HELP. THE GIRL DIDN'T WANT TO BE LEFT ALONE
BECAUSE EARLIER THEY HAD HEARD A NEWS BULLETIN ON THE RADIO ABOUT
AN ESCAPED LUNATIC BELIEVED TO BE HEADED IN THAT DIRECTION. HER
BOYFRIEND FINALLY CONVINCED HER THAT SHE WOULD BE ALRIGHT IF SHE
LOCKED HERSELF IN. HE SET OFF WALKING AND SHE LOCKED THE CAR AND
GOT A BLANKET OUT OF THE BACK TO KEEP WARM WITH. AN HOUR OR SO
PASSED AND THE GIRL FELL ASLEEP. SHE AWOKE TO HEAR A TAPPING AT
THE WINDOW. SHE COULDN'T SEE WHAT WAS CAUSING IT BECAUSE IT WAS
SO DARK SO SHE LAID THERE UNDER THE BLANKET WAITING. EVENTUALLY
SHE SAW THE LIGHTS OF A CAR. TIRED OF WAITING AND VERY FRIGHTENED
SHE DECIDED TO FLAG IT DOWN THINKING IT WAS EITHER HER BOYFRIEND
OR SOMEONE WHO COULD HELP. SHE GETS OUT OF THE CAR AND AS SHE
TURNS TOWARDS THE APPROACHING CAR SHE SEES WHAT WAS CAUSING THE
TAPPING NOISE. HER BOYFRIEND WAS HANGING FROM A TREE BY HIS FEET.
HIS THROAT HAD BEEN CUT AND HIS ARM WAS HANGING DOWN NEAR THE CAR,
THE NOISE HAD BEEN HIS CLASS RING TAPPING AGAINST THE CAR WINDOW
AS HIS BODY SWONG IN THE WIND. THAT IS WHY THE ROAD IS CALLED
BLOOD ROAD.

Submitter comment: BRUNVANDS THE BOYFRIEND'S DEATH.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES

Date learned: 02-20-1984