Mysterious Invisible Barriers: The Durham Parking Space Incident & Unexplained Paranormal Phenomena
Unexplained phenomena involving invisible barriers and mysterious objects have puzzled witnesses and investigators alike for decades. From the 1949 case of truck driver Max Lindsay in Bluffton, Indiana, who experienced a saucer-shaped object crashing into his windshield with a flash of blue light, to more recent incidents in the 2010s where motorists reported objects smashing through their windshields only to find no evidence afterward, these occurrences continue to defy conventional explanation.
The phenomenon extends beyond roadways to include parking lots and even the skies. In December 1975, a woman in Durham reported being unable to back her car into an empty parking space due to what felt like an invisible barrier. Meanwhile, numerous aircraft accidents throughout history have been attributed to collisions with unseen objects, including a 1938 U.S. Army bomber crash and multiple jet incidents in the 1950s. These events, along with cases of time displacement like the Portsmouth nurse who lost 40 minutes after observing a strange object in the night sky, suggest patterns that remain unexplained by conventional science.
Key Takeaways
Unexplained incidents involving vehicles colliding with invisible barriers have been documented across roads, parking lots, and airspace.
Strange aerial phenomena often coincide with vehicle malfunctions, physical impediments, or unexplained time lapses.
Witness accounts spanning from the 1940s through recent decades show consistent patterns despite occurring in widely separated locations and circumstances.
Max Lindsay's UFO Encounter in Bluffton
The Mysterious Flying Object Incident
On December 7, 1949, truck driver Max Lindsay experienced a bizarre encounter while driving on Indiana Highway 124 near the small town of Bluffton. As reported in the Indianapolis Star the following day, Lindsay was traveling along his route when a strange saucer-shaped object—which he described as "something like a can lid"—came hurtling toward his vehicle at high speed.
The object crashed directly into Lindsay's windshield, causing it to shatter on impact. While this might initially seem like ordinary road debris, what happened next defied conventional explanation. According to Lindsay's account, upon impact, he witnessed a "flash of blue" followed by the object mysteriously exploding into smoke. He later described this unusual vapor to investigating officers as being "exactly like what's his name in the Opera Faust."
Investigation and Aftermath
Police Chief Shepard and Deputy Raymond immediately responded to the incident and conducted a thorough examination of the accident scene. Despite their careful search of the area, they were unable to locate any physical evidence of the mysterious object that had struck Lindsay's windshield. The lack of physical evidence only deepened the mystery surrounding the encounter.
This incident bears similarities to other unexplained windshield strikes that occurred decades later between 2016-2017, when motorists in multiple cities reported objects smashing through their windshields while driving. In those later cases, witnesses often described the objects as ice-like balls, despite occurring during summer months. When investigators arrived at those scenes, they similarly found no physical evidence remaining.
Lindsay's experience stands as one of many documented cases where drivers have encountered unexplained phenomena on highways, adding to the collection of mysterious incidents that continue to puzzle researchers today.
Similar Highway Incidents
Objects Breaking Through Windshields
Several documented cases exist where motorists have encountered unexpected objects striking their vehicles while driving. Between 2016 and 2017, a pattern emerged across multiple cities involving objects smashing through windshields on highways. Many drivers described these objects as "balls of ice," despite some incidents occurring during summer months. Curiously, investigators often found no physical evidence at these scenes, leading to speculation about their origins and composition.
These cases share similar characteristics: sudden impacts, damaged windshields, and mysterious objects that seem to disappear after collision. The lack of physical evidence at crash sites has made these incidents difficult to explain through conventional means, leaving both investigators and victims puzzled.
Comparisons with Max Lindsay's Case
Max Lindsay's 1949 incident near Bluffton, Indiana bears striking similarities to more recent windshield cases. As reported in the December 8, 1949 edition of the Indianapolis Star, Lindsay was driving on Indiana Highway 124 when a "saucer-shaped" object "like a can lid" struck his windshield, causing it to shatter on impact.
The distinctive aspects of Lindsay's encounter include:
A "flash of blue" upon impact
The object exploding into smoke
No recoverable debris found by Police Chief Shepard and Deputy Raymond
Unlike some modern cases where ice was suspected, Lindsay specifically described a metallic-like object. What makes his case particularly compelling is the reported blue flash and smoke - phenomena not typically associated with mundane road debris.
The investigation by local authorities yielded no physical evidence, similar to the pattern seen in the 2016-2017 incidents. This absence of recoverable material despite witnessed impacts represents one of the most perplexing aspects of these events, suggesting either rapid disintegration of the objects or other unexplained factors.
The Nurse's Mysterious Disappearance in Portsmouth
In November 1976, a peculiar incident occurred at a hospital in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England. A nurse vanished for 40 minutes while walking between hospital wards, with no memory of where she had been during this time gap. The case presents several unexplained elements that continue to puzzle researchers who investigated the incident.
The Crimson Aerial Object
While walking across the hospital quad at approximately 1:00 a.m., the nurse noticed an unusual object in the night sky. She described seeing a purple-red cigar-shaped object hovering silently overhead. The object captivated her attention, causing her to pause momentarily. According to her account, as she watched the strange aerial phenomenon, there was a sudden flash of bright light comparable to a camera flashbulb. Immediately following this intense illumination, the object simply disappeared from view—not flying away or moving, but instantly vanishing from its position in the sky.
The Unexplained Time Gap
What makes this incident particularly baffling is the significant discrepancy in time perception experienced by the nurse. After the object disappeared, she continued her journey to the other ward, believing she had spent only a few minutes crossing the quad. However, upon arriving at her destination, she was met by concerned staff members who had been worried about her whereabouts.
When the watches worn by all parties were checked, it became evident that approximately 40 minutes had elapsed since she left the first ward—a substantial period of time the nurse could not account for. Despite questioning, she had no recollection of what transpired during this missing time segment.
The most puzzling aspect was her physical condition. Despite the freezing winter temperatures and wearing only her standard nurse's uniform, she reported feeling no cold whatsoever during her supposed brief walk outside.
Investigation by UFO Researchers
Dave Pearson and Ken Phillips, two UFO researchers, conducted a detailed investigation into this unusual occurrence. They noted a significant inconsistency in the nurse's experience: the absence of any sensation of cold despite being exposed to freezing winter temperatures for nearly 40 minutes while wearing only a thin uniform.
The investigators determined that under normal circumstances, anyone standing outside in those conditions would have experienced considerable discomfort and physical effects from the cold. This anomaly suggested something extraordinary had occurred during the missing time.
Pearson and Phillips attempted to persuade the nurse to undergo hypnotic regression therapy, hoping this might help recover any suppressed memories of the missing 40 minutes. Despite the bizarre nature of her experience, the nurse—who considered herself a skeptic—declined the suggestion, stating that she did not believe hypnosis was a valid method for retrieving memories.
The investigators documented the case thoroughly, but with the nurse's unwillingness to explore further avenues of inquiry, the true nature of what happened during those missing 40 minutes remains a mystery to this day.
Ellis Kant's Mysterious Barrier Experience
The Multi-Story Car Park Incident
In early December 1975, Durham resident Ellis Kant encountered something inexplicable while attempting to park her car. The incident occurred in a newly built multi-story car park near Durham city center. After entering through the electronic gate and collecting her ticket, Mrs. Kant tried backing her Mini into an empty parking space.
What happened next defied explanation. Despite three attempts to reverse into the space, she found herself unable to complete the maneuver. "It was as if I'd come up against a curb," she later explained, "but when I got out of the car to see what was stopping me, there was nothing there." The invisible barrier completely prevented her from parking, despite her 25 years of driving experience.
Following this strange occurrence, Mrs. Kant discussed the experience with her daughter-in-law, Rosina. Curious about the phenomenon, Rosina agreed to visit the car park herself to investigate. When she arrived, she discovered another motorist experiencing the exact same difficulty in the same parking space.
Further Examination and Public Testing
The incident was unusual enough that Mrs. Kant, who lived in the village of Coxhoe in County Durham, reported it to the council responsible for managing the car park. Taking her claims seriously, council officials conducted their own tests at the site but found no issues with the parking space. They could park vehicles without encountering any invisible obstructions.
To address Mrs. Kant's concerns, the council invited media representatives to witness Mrs. Kant attempt to park again. During this public demonstration, she was able to reverse into the space without difficulty. "I drove into the parking space without being stopped. I would have been happier if I'd been unable to do so," Mrs. Kant told reporters.
Despite the seemingly normal outcome of the test, Mrs. Kant remained steadfast about her original experience: "I know what happened before was real and I won't go back on one word of my story. It's the truth even though it does seem to make me look rather foolish."
The cause of the phenomenon remains unexplained. Some have speculated about possible electrical interference, while others connect it to similar accounts where vehicles or aircraft have reportedly collided with invisible objects. The Durham car park incident stands as one of many documented cases where individuals have encountered seemingly solid but invisible barriers in everyday settings.
Mysterious Encounters with Unseen Barriers
Reports of individuals colliding with invisible barriers challenge our understanding of physical reality. These strange occurrences span decades and affect both ground vehicles and aircraft, leaving witnesses bewildered and investigators puzzled.
Aerial Impacts with Undetectable Objects
Several documented incidents suggest aircraft have collided with invisible obstacles in otherwise clear skies. In June 1938, a U.S. Army bomber crashed near Delaware, Illinois, killing nine men despite being the only aircraft in the vicinity. A ground witness described hearing "a sudden crash in midair" though nothing visible could have caused the impact.
Similar incidents continued through the years:
June 8, 1951: Three pilots died when four jets crashed simultaneously near Richmond, Indiana
December 3, 1955: Four jets crashed in flames near Lawrenceville, Georgia after a pilot was heard exclaiming "We can't miss it"
May 2, 1953: A jetliner crashed outside Calcutta, with the British Ministry of Civil Aviation concluding it had "collided with a fairly heavy body"
In each case, witnesses confirmed no other aircraft were present when the planes seemed to stop abruptly mid-flight before crashing. These incidents suggest the possible existence of transparent or invisible objects at altitude that pose deadly hazards to aircraft.
Drivers and Aviators Facing Invisible Obstructions
On land, equally perplexing encounters have been documented. In December 1975, Ellis Kant experienced something extraordinary in a Durham multi-story car park. Despite three attempts to reverse into an empty parking space, she found herself blocked by what felt like "an impregnable barrier."
"It was as if I'd come up against a curb, but when I got out of the car to see what was stopping me, there was nothing there," Kant reported. With 25 years of driving experience, she insisted she had never encountered anything similar.
A similar incident occurred in 1949 when truck driver Max Lindsay had a bizarre collision on Indiana Highway 124. Lindsay reported a "saucer-shaped" object "like a can lid" struck his windshield. Upon impact, he witnessed a "flash of blue" before the object seemingly exploded into smoke. Despite a thorough investigation by Police Chief Shepard and Deputy Raymond, no trace of the object was found.
Some encounters involve time anomalies as well. In November 1976, a Portsmouth nurse walking between hospital wards observed a "purple-red cigar-like object" hovering overhead. After a flash of bright light, the object vanished—and curiously, what felt like minutes to her had been nearly 40 minutes according to concerned staff waiting for her arrival.
Between 2016 and 2017, multiple motorists across different cities reported objects crashing through their windshields that resembled ice balls, even in summer months. Upon investigation, no physical evidence remained at the scenes.
Theories and Speculations
Electrical Phenomena or Paranormal Events
Multiple unexplained incidents involving vehicles and invisible barriers challenge conventional explanations. In Bluffton, Indiana on December 7, 1949, truck driver Max Lindsay reported a saucer-shaped object hitting his windshield, followed by a "flash of blue" before the object exploded into smoke. Despite police investigation, no trace of the object was found.
Similar incidents occurred between 2016-2017 when motorists in various cities reported objects crashing through their windshields. Many described these as ice balls, even during summer months, with investigators finding no evidence afterward.
A particularly intriguing case happened in Durham in December 1975. A driver named Ellis Kant encountered what she described as an "impregnable barrier" while attempting to park. Despite 25 years of driving experience, she could not back into an empty parking space, as if hitting an invisible wall. When her daughter-in-law investigated, she observed another motorist experiencing identical difficulties.
The phenomenon temporarily disappeared when officials conducted tests, raising questions about whether electrical interference might explain these occurrences rather than paranormal forces. However, Mrs. Kant maintained the authenticity of her experience despite being unable to reproduce it during the official investigation.
Invisible Barriers in Our Haunted World
Researcher John Keel documented numerous cases of aircraft colliding with invisible objects in his work "Our Haunted Planet." These incidents suggest the possible existence of imperceptible structures in our atmosphere:
Date Location Incident June 11, 1938 Delaware, Illinois US Army bomber crashed despite being alone in the sky, killing nine men June 8, 1951 Richmond, Indiana Three pilots died when four jets crashed simultaneously December 3, 1955 Lawrenceville, Georgia Four jets crashed after pilot exclaimed "We can't miss it" May 2, 1953 Near Calcutta British Ministry of Civil Aviation concluded a jetliner had "collided with a fairly heavy body" despite no visible aircraft nearby
Time anomalies also accompany some of these strange phenomena. In Portsmouth, England in November 1976, a nurse witnessed a purple-red cigar-shaped object while crossing between hospital wards. After observing a flash of light, she completed what felt like a brief walk, only to discover that 40 minutes had elapsed—time she couldn't account for.
Most remarkably, despite freezing temperatures and wearing only her uniform, the nurse reported feeling no cold during this missing time. UFO researchers Dave Pearson and Ken Phillips noted this would have been physiologically impossible under normal circumstances, though the nurse declined hypnotic regression to explore her memories further.
These cases collectively suggest phenomena beyond current scientific understanding, potentially linking aerial anomalies with ground-level experiences of invisible barriers.
