Luminous ball chases a truck on the D110 road near Annot

Summary

In December 1979, a butcher driving his truck along the D110 road between Braux and Annot in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence saw a luminous ball that appeared to follow his vehicle. The object emitted a shrill sound and changed color. Despite accelerating in panic, the phenomenon accompanied him for two kilometers before vanishing abruptly. The gendarmerie found no other witnesses or clear explanation.

A later investigation using digital tools and an on-site reconstruction revealed the witness had experienced a perceptual illusion caused by the full Moon. The described trajectory matched the Moon's apparent movement relative to the road's curves. The social climate of the era, rife with abduction rumors, amplified the driver's fear. Although the perceived sound and a subsequent intestinal discomfort were noteworthy, no objective evidence supported them. The case was ultimately reclassified as an observation of the Moon.