Couple Terrified by Close Encounter With Light While Driving Eastward on I-10 West of New Orleans

Photo and Blowup of Light. Witness Took Photo With Disposable Camera.

Approximate Location of Sighting

Date of Sighting: February 12, 2006
Time of Sighting: 5 AM CST
Date Reported: March 3, 2006
Duration of Sighting: Few Minutes
Location of Sighting: On Interstate 10 About 40 Miles West of New Orleans, Louisiana 
Latitude:  30.1 Degrees North (Estimated)
Longitude:  90.75 Degrees West (Estimated)
Number of Witnesses: Two
Number of Witnesses Interviewed: One
Weather: Partly Cloudy Skies. Visibility 10 Miles.
Astronomical: Sunrise - 6:43 AM CST. Venus Rose at about 4:20 AM CST at 108 Degrees (East-Southeast). 

Description:  The witness reported the sighting via phone report. I have had several conversations with him since his original report.  He says that he and his fiancée were traveling eastbound on I-10 about 40 miles west of New Orleans.  They both saw a light to the right (south of the highway).  The light became quite bright.  The male witness was driving and took a photo with his disposable camera while he continued to drive.  The photo that he provided contained two blowups.  (One of the blowups and the photo are shown above.) The witness said that at the time they were about 10 minutes from an exit where they had planned to get gas.  He said that it took them nearly 40 minutes to reach that exit.  He feels that they lost about 30 minutes of time in the encounter.  He says that he has been experiencing terrifying dreams since the encounter.  His fiancée is afraid to talk about the sighting.  The witness said that the light was moving in and out of the clouds.

Investigator's Notes: Both of these witnesses are terrified by what they experienced.  The photos by themselves are not particularly revealing, but combined with the witness reports they provide documentation that the witnesses did see something.  Some possibility exists that the witness photographed Venus, but given how bright that the light was reported to be that explanation doesn't completely fit.  More interviews are planned for the witnesses.  Any new information will be posted.