By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2024-12-13 21:28:24 | Updated at 2024-12-13 23:30:38
2 hours ago
A frightening figure has appeared by the side of dark, lonely Nebraska roads to try and lure accident victims into his car.
Multiple people traveling on Highway 36 just outside of Bennington have been left shaken after striking objects in the road and spinning out of control.
Their horrors have only been exacerbated by a mysterious figure who has consistently appeared at the scene immediately after the incidents.
It always happens at night. His car has been seen parked at a nearby intersection with its lights on but engine off, apparently waiting for victims.
On Saturday night Garrison Beach was traveling on the road in Douglas County when he had to swerve to avoid a piece of metal in the middle of the asphalt.
As he did so, he overcorrected and his Toyota Camry ended up crashing through a wire guardrail and down a ravine, with his wife Skylar riding shotgun.
Their nightmare had only just started though, with the odd figure spotted by the couple standing at the top of the ravine immediately after their horrifying crash.
Recounting the strange encounter, Harrison told WOWT: 'As soon as we got out of the car, I remember walking up the embankment and this guy showed up.
Several people traveling on Highway 36 (pictured) just outside of Bennington have been left shaken after striking objects in the road and spinning out of control
On Saturday night Garrison and Skylar Beach, seen here, were traveling on the road in Douglas County when they had to swerve to avoid a piece of metal in the middle of the asphalt
'He was already there, like, waiting for us up on the side of the road and [he said], "Are you guys okay? I’ve called the paramedics already".'
The man asked them to wait for emergency services inside his own vehicle, which they had spotted at an intersection with the lights on - seemingly watching the road.
The unnerved couple declined, with Skylar telling the outlet: 'It was just very odd. He was right there when we got out of the car.
'Since our car was in the ravine, no one would know we were down there. It was odd how fast he showed up, as if he watched the whole thing happen
'As soon as we said, "No, we’re going to wait for the police", he kind of just walked back to his car.
'It was pretty scary. I remember screaming and I wasn’t sure when we’d start rolling, but we were fortunate to walk away from the accident.
Garrison recalled: 'I didn’t want to [crash] head-on into a big piece of metal in the middle of the road going 55-60 miles per hour, so I just tried to swerve out of the way.'
The man left the scene before they could get his name, but it appears this type of behavior has happened before on the exact same stretch of road.
It always happens at night, and he always seems to be standing close by when it happens
The man asked them to wait for emergency services inside his own vehicle, which they had spotted at an intersection with the lights on
Sklyar told the outlet that the couple wanted answers for what was going on
Kyle Sorenson had an almost identical story from the Beach couple, with his vehicle striking a kids bike that had been left in the middle of the road.
Sorenson recalled to the outlet that immediately after he collided with it, the man appeared behind him in his vehicle.
He told the outlet: 'I hit a kid’s bike that had been left right in the center of the road. As I looked in my rearview mirror, I saw someone sitting on Pawnee Road.
'They pulled up behind me and it was this individual saying he was checking to make sure we were okay.'
After seeing little damage on his vehicle, Sorenson left the scene unscathed but his wife later spotted the man following a car that was leaking oil on the highway.
Sorenson added: 'In two weeks, this has been three incidents where he was immediately the first person on the scene.'
Following the crash of Garrison and Skylar, Sorenson, who is their close friend, decided to report matters to the police.
He said: 'I really didn’t want to confront the person, but I informed the police. I don’t want to accuse and say this person is absolutely doing this, but I want to make aware this is strange.'
Kyle Sorenson had an almost identical story from the Beach couple, with his vehicle striking a kids bike that had been left in the middle of the road
After similar incidents, the Beaches are now left wondering if the metal they swerved to avoid had been put there deliberately by the man who offered help.
Skylar said: 'We definitely want some answers on why he’s doing what he’s doing. We just don’t want this to keep happening to other people, or something even worse to happen.'
It has also since emerged that an unnamed couple collided with a wooden kitchen chair that was sitting upright in the middle of the stretch in late October.
The couple spoke with WOWT and said a man in his 20s appeared right after their crash to see the damage. They say they fled the area quickly and didn't get a name.
The Douglas County Sheriff is now investigating the multiple incidents of objects in the driving lanes, saying they believe they have a potential suspect.
County Sheriff Aaron Hanson said: 'Over the last 30 days, the sheriff’s office has been made aware of a concerning trend of obstructions being placed in roadways in the Bennington area
'We have a potential suspect in mind and we are continuing with an investigation right now. We have a subject of interest that we are honing in on.'
