What Happened
At 7:37 p.m. on December 1, 2013, a driver heading toward Norman on I-35 found himself in a bank of thick fog that reduced visibility to almost nothing. He and the other drivers were traveling at 45–55 miles per hour, trying to stay safe in the darkness.
Suddenly, a bright orange light appeared out of the darkness. At first, the driver thought it was the moon or an optical illusion. As it drew closer, he realized the source was not an ordinary celestial object: it was a round object divided into several sections, resembling a calzone. The light was so strong that the sky looked as though it were the middle of the day, despite the late hour.
The driver described about 10 stationary objects, all circular and each casting a broad beam of light. No sound was reported, and the objects appeared clear and close, not blurry. They were believed to be near mile markers 170–180, but the driver was too unsettled to check the exact location.
After passing beneath the display, the drivers sped up considerably. Some reached speeds of 95–100 miles per hour, apparently trying to get away from the strange area. The driver called emergency services; the call was transferred to the Highway Patrol, which took the report but had no information about any military or special aviation activity at the time.
Context and Significance
The sighting took place during a season when dense fog is common in the central United States, making a small, bright light seem especially unusual. Several stationary objects, all lit the same color, do not match any known aviation phenomenon. Ordinary aircraft do not produce a powerful orange beam of light, and they generally cannot be seen in dense fog.
The report was entered into the NUFORC (National UFO Reporting Center) database, where it is labeled an “unverified eyewitness report.” The case is notable because witnesses saw several stationary objects that made no sound and reported a sudden change in vehicle speeds, suggesting that the lights may have had a psychological or even physical effect on the drivers.
Summary
The incident remains unexplained. To date, no similar phenomenon has been documented in the area, and police found no connection to an aircraft or military operation. The case remains among the unexplained sightings, a reminder of how often the skies can still surprise us.
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The report is listed in the NUFORC database under case number 105032.
