The Incident
On April 26, 2007, at 11:55 a.m., two drivers in an 18-wheeler were crossing the Nevada desert, heading south. They suddenly felt a jolt, and everything lit up with a bright flash. According to the witnesses, several meteorites struck the ground nearby, some still trailing light.
One large, orange-brown meteorite passed overhead with a loud rushing sound. As the pair braced for impact, another meteorite slid down a hill on the right side of the road, rose into the air, and appeared to reflect off their truck, about four feet from the windshield. The witnesses described it as a glowing, fist-sized orb that looked like “liquid gold” and radiated light. After striking the truck’s rear section, the meteorite bounced back toward the windshield, spun, and left holes and flakes. It also made sounds like an electrical discharge: crackling, buzzing, and a sensation of static.
At the same time, two more meteorites hit the front section of the truck’s roof, bringing traffic to a stop. Marks about four and nine inches across appeared on the roof, while scratches and flakes about two inches in diameter appeared on the window. During the incident, the witnesses also saw “black lumps” fall near the window and collected several for study.
Experts’ Response
The pair contacted a meteorite laboratory (name withheld), which heard their account, examined the truck, and took photographs. A lab representative said that a meteorite striking a moving vehicle was extremely rare. He knew of only one similar case, in which a small stone hit a vehicle but was not seen. He accepted the couple’s documentation, including photographs of a sparkling meteorite, and expressed amazement: “This is an achondrite, a rare type of meteorite that forms without crystals.”
The lab analyzed the samples the couple had collected. Most were identified as desert basalt or rocks coated with desert varnish, but some of the material remained unidentified, raising questions about its origin.
Context and Significance
The report was entered into the NUFORC database as an “unidentified orb,” with a possible meteorite explanation. Though unverified, it offers a detailed account of visual, auditory, and tactile experiences associated with meteorites: light, glowing objects, thunderous sounds, and physical traces on a vehicle. If confirmed, it would be a rare case of a meteorite striking a moving vehicle, offering new insights into meteorite impacts in the atmosphere.
Summary
The account describes a dramatic incident in which a large meteorite struck a truck, producing a bright flash and thunderous sounds and leaving glowing objects on the vehicle. Though unverified, it offers a compelling description of a phenomenon that could contribute to research on meteorite impacts and how often they occur in Nevada’s desert regions.
