The Cars That Stopped

On November 2-3, 1957, at least 15 people near Levelland, Texas independently reported their vehicles being disabled by a glowing, egg-shaped object. The electromagnetic effects on car engines and lights made this a landmark UFO case.

The Night

November 2-3, 1957:

• Multiple calls to police
• Over several hours
• Different locations
• Same description
• Same effects

The Object

Witnesses described:

• Egg-shaped
• About 200 feet long
• Glowing intensely
• Hovering near road
• Blinding brightness

The Effects

When object approached:

• Car engines died
• Headlights went out
• Radio static
• Complete electrical failure
• Terrifying

After Departure

When object left:

• Cars restarted
• Lights worked
• All normal again
• Consistent pattern
• Multiple witnesses

The Witnesses

At least 15 people:

• Truck drivers
• Families
• College students
• Independent encounters
• Same experience

Sheriff’s Investigation

Weir Clem:

• Local sheriff
• Investigated reports
• Found witnesses credible
• Took seriously
• Called Air Force

Project Blue Book

Air Force response:

• Explained as “ball lightning”
• Weather-related
• Witnesses disagreed
• Inadequate explanation
• Case “explained”

Problems with Explanation

Critics note:

• Ball lightning doesn’t disable cars
• Wrong weather conditions
• Too many witnesses
• Consistent descriptions
• Not satisfactory

The Electromagnetic Effect

Pattern observed:

• Many UFO cases
• Vehicle interference
• Engine/light effects
• Documented pattern
• Physical evidence

Significance

Classic case demonstrating UFO electromagnetic effects on vehicles, with multiple independent witnesses.

Legacy

The Levelland case became a landmark in documenting the electromagnetic effects associated with UFO encounters, despite official dismissal.