On the evening of November 2, 1957, farm workers Pedro Saucedo and Joe Salaz called the Levelland police. Driving four miles west of town, they said, a rocket-shaped object rose up, passed over their truck with a sound like thunder and a wave of heat, and their engine died until it had gone.
An hour later, motorist Jim Wheeler reported a brilliantly lit, egg-shaped object about 200 feet long sitting on the road east of town; his engine and lights died as well. Through the night more drivers north, east and west of Levelland called in the same story, and the sheriff and officers sent out to look saw a bright light.
Project Blue Book spent a few hours on the case and blamed ball lightning or a storm. Witnesses and later researchers said there was only light drizzle and no lightning, and the Levelland cars are still one of the most cited "vehicle interference" cases.