Drivers have been left terrified by ‘ghost lights’ on one of Florida’s most haunted roads for the past 60 years – and the phenomenon still hasn’t been explained.
Locals often talk about the ‘Oviedo Lights’ that appear along the bridge over the Econlockhatchee River on Snow Hill Road in Seminole County, and many have even ventured out to try to see them.
It remains a mystery as to how the lights appear, but the first reports of the eerie phenomenon go back as far as the 1960s, local historical Jason Byrne wrote on his website Florida Historia Blog.
The Florida Technological University, which would later be renamed the University of Central Florida, published pictures of the Oviedo Lights in a series of newspaper articles in October 1969.
According to local lore, the strange lights are said to appear around midnight and are most prominent during the winter months .
Locals know of the ‘Oviedo Lights’ that appear along the bridge over the Econlockhatchee River on Snow Hill Road in Seminole County
The Florida Technological University, which would later be renamed the University of Central Florida, published pictures of the Oviedo Lights in a series of newspaper articles in 1969
‘From a distance, it resembles an oncoming car, but as it approaches witnesses say its light is as bright as a freight train and never separates into two lights as would car headlights,’ Byrne wrote.
Witnesses claimed the lights have a blue hue and disappear immediately after they cross the bridge.
The rumors of the lights have brought people from all over Florida to hunt down the phenomenon, especially teenagers.
‘You drive out there and sit in the middle of the night — drink beer or whatever teenagers do — and look for these legendary lights,’ Byrne told Click Orlando.
‘So there’s literally generations of people who remember going out there, taking a date or taking some friends in search of these ghost lights.’
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There is only one story Byrne has been able to validate that could explain the supposed ghost behind the lights: the death of Norbert Hyman, who died in 1963 at the age of 17.
He and some friends had gone to the bridge to set off fireworks. Later, one friend went back to get the car and started driving without headlights on.
Two friends were able to safely jump out of the way, but Hyman was fatally struck by the vehicle, according to Byrne.
‘[The friend] drove his other two friends home and dropped them off before taking [Hyman] to the hospital,’ Byrne said.
By the time the teen arrived at the hospital, he was dead.
Pictured: A glimpse of what some consider to be glowing orb
Pictured: Norbert Hyman, who died in 1963 at the age of 17, whom some locals believe is behind the ghostly lights
Other unverified tall tales include a Cub Scout becoming separated from his troop and having a lantern with him, with the belief that the light is his spirit still searching for his friends, according to Byrne.
Another chilling theory revolves around a teenager playing chicken on the road and getting hit by an oncoming car.
There is also a story involving two boys who got into a car wreck and drowned under the bridge.
Despite what locals believe, experts said the dead vegetation in the swamps can break down to produce highly combustible methane gas. If ignited, the methane would appear blue, according to PBS.
However, experts are unsure if that is what’s happening as they don’t know what would cause the methane to combust.
Until the real story is revealed, ghost-hunters continue to come to the bridge for a glimpse of a blue orb floating their way.
