This article was published in the daily newspaper The Washington Evening Star, on November 4, 1957.
Information on the sightings in Levelland in 1957 here.
Levelland, Tex., Nov. 4 (UP). -- Reports of a mystery object, which one witness said flew around "with a great sound and rush of wind" had officials and the public puzzled today.
Newsmen and authorities had reports of sightings over a wide West Texas area Saturday and yesterday.
Peace officers checking areas where landings were reported were unable to find any trace.
Pedro Saucedo, 30, a farm hand and part-time barber here, told officers and newsmen, "I was driving out to a farm near the Pettit community (West of here, Saturday night) with a friend, Joe Salaz, when we first saw the thing. We first saw a flash of light in a field to our right and we didn't think much about it at first.
Truck Lights Go Out
"When it got near, the lights of my truck went out and the motor died. I jumped out of the truck and hit the dirt because I was afraid. I called to Joe but he didn't get out. The thing passed directly over my truck with a great sound and a rush of wind. It sounded like thunder and my truck rocked from the blast. Then I got up and watched it go out of sight towards Levelland."
Mr. Saucedo, a Korean War veteran, said it was "torpedo shaped" or like "a rocket" but much larger.
Ronald Martin, 18, a Levelland truck driver, said his truck engine died and the lights went out "when a big ball of fire dropped on the highway" east of here early yesterday. Young Martin said the object changed to a bluish green color when it settled on the highway, then changed to a fireball again when it rose straight up and disappeared.
About 15 Reports
Newell Wright, a Texas Tech student from here, reported a similar occurence also east of Levelland.
Police Patrolman A. J. Fowler said Mr. Saucedo and about 14 others who called in reports of the object sounded upset and in some cases terrified.
"They seemed to agree that this something was 200 feet long, shaped like an egg and was lit up like it was on fire - but looked more like neon lights," he said.
"They said it was about 200 feet in the air and when it got close car motors and lights would go off. Everybody that called was very excited", he said.