The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

VANISHING ACCIDENT VICTIM

AS A CERTAIN YOUNG MAN WAS DRIVING DOWN A COUNTRY ROAD
AT NIGHT, HE SAW A YOUNG WOMAN LYING ON THE ROAD, AS
IF SHE HAD BEEN HIT BY A CAR. HE STOPPED THE CAR,
JUMPED OUT AND FOUND THE GIRL BADLY HURT. HE CARRIED
HER INTO THE CAR AND GAVE HER HIS HANDKERCHIEF TO
WIPE THE BLOOD OFF HER FACE. HE WAS ABOUT TO DRIVE OFF
WITH HER, FOR HELP, WHEN HE SAW A SMALL HOUSE DOWN THE
ROAD. HE GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND RAN TO THE HOUSE.
FRANTICALLY, HE TOLD THE MAN AND WOMAN INSIDE ABOUT
THE BADLY INJURED GIRL IN HIS CAR. THE COUPLE ONLY
LOOKED AT EACH OTHER AND SAID NOTHING AND MAKE NO
OFFER OF HELP. ANGERED, THE YOUNG MAN RAN OUT TO
BRING THE GIRL IN, THINKING THE COUPLE DON'T BELIEVE
HIM. HE RETURNED TO THE CAR AND FOUND IT EMPTY. HIS
HANDKERCHIEF IS ON THE SEAT, UNFOLDED BUT CLEAN.
STUNNED, HE RETURNED TO THE HOUSE WHERE THE COUPLE
EXPLAIN THEIR APPARENT LACK OF INTEREST. YEARS AGO,
THEIR DAUGHTER WAS HIT BY A TRUCK ON THE ROAD AS
SHE WALKED. SHE DRAGGED HERSELF ALONG THE ROAD, HOPING
TO REACH HOME. NOW EVERY SO OFTEN, SHE APPEARS TO
PEOPLE SO SHE COULD GET HELP AND REACH HER HOME,
WHICH SHE DIDN'T REACH BEFORE SHE DIED. EACH TIME SHE
GETS CLOSER TO HER HOME. SHE HAD ALMOST MADE IT
THIS TIME, WHEN THE YOUNG MAN FOUND HER. HER PARENTS
HOPE ONE DAY SHE WILL REACH HOME.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 02-04-1968