'Ghost Girl' tale had prankster fans

[snopes]

As the legend goes, there was an automobile accident on Feb. 26, 1938 on Niles Canyon Road near the Palomares Road train trestle, and a young woman was killed. Some say it was her wedding night. Others say she had been to a dance in Sunol.

Some folks think she often makes an appearance on the anniversary of her death and stands by the side of the rode near the place on the highway where she lost her life.

Several motorists claim to have picked her up and she gave them a San Francisco address. The story continues that after picking up the young girl, and as the driver approaches the Dumbarton Bridge, she mysteriously vanishes from the car.

http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/...a/16786103.htm

One of the cars turned out to be an Alameda County sheriff's deputy, who hit the brakes and came out shooting....

Again, must note, NOT in the South did this happen....

[Ali Infree]

I think the story is a pre-cursor to the three strikes law--shooting to warn known pranksters? Yow.
Would that Sheriff's office had put out the tire deflator strips to stop the Phantom 309?

[Andrew of Ware]

I have heard a similar story from Kent (sorry I can't remember the town).

One cold evening a driver is descending the hill into the town. He sees a pretty girl, aged about thirteen to sixteen, hitch-hiking. Thinking that it is not a good idea for a girl so young to be doing this, he stops, she gets in and asks where she lives. She gives her address. He notices she is shivering so he lends her his coat which is on the back seat.

The girl puts the coat on and falls asleep. The man drives on, but after a few minutes he turns and finds the girl gone. Thinking she must have fallen out of the car without him noticing (as if!) he turns around and searches for her, but finds nothing.

Thinking she must have got out and walked home he asks a passer-by where her house is (of course, he's memorised her address). He drives to the girl's house and knocks on the door. The girl's parents are shocked and say that their daughter was killed in a road accident, exactly where he picked her up, one year ago that night.

Seeing the driver's disbelief they take him to the churchyard to show him the girl's grave. On the grave, neatly folded up, is the man's coat.

[Bryan With a 'Y']

Originally Posted by Andrew of Ware

I have heard a similar story from Kent (sorry I can't remember the town).

One cold evening a driver is descending the hill into the town. He sees a pretty girl, aged about thirteen to sixteen, hitch-hiking. Thinking that it is not a good idea for a girl so young to be doing this, he stops, she gets in and asks where she lives. She gives her address. He notices she is shivering so he lends her his coat which is on the back seat.

The girl puts the coat on and falls asleep. The man drives on, but after a few minutes he turns and finds the girl gone. Thinking she must have fallen out of the car without him noticing (as if!) he turns around and searches for her, but finds nothing.

Thinking she must have got out and walked home he asks a passer-by where her house is (of course, he's memorised her address). He drives to the girl's house and knocks on the door. The girl's parents are shocked and say that their daughter was killed in a road accident, exactly where he picked her up, one year ago that night.

Seeing the driver's disbelief they take him to the churchyard to show him the girl's grave. On the grave, neatly folded up, is the man's coat.

You're sure you didn't read it here?

[Andrew of Ware]

No, it was on a 'Strange But True' programme which was hosted by Michael Aspel in the 1980s on ITV. They investigated a lot of ghost, UFO and other stories, usuaully deciding that the stories were rubbish. The theme tune they used was similar to the one later used in 'The X Files'.

[BoKu]

Originally Posted by snopes

As the legend goes, there was an automobile accident on Feb. 26, 1938 on Niles Canyon Road near the Palomares Road train trestle...

Wow, an actual, verifiable place. And a place conducive to accidents, too. It doesn't show well on the map but there's a relatively wicked kink in the road where it dodges the trestle abutment. Back when I rode motorcyles I crashed there twice; once in each direction. Just scrapes and sprains, fortunately.

Bob "Former Boy Racer" K.

[Le Chevalier Blanc]

Here's the spot on Google maps, I believe...

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=e...07167&t=h&om=1

-Le Chevalier Blanc
Chivalry is not dead... it's just paralyzed from the neck up.

The story in the OP also sounds a lot like Resurrection Mary, well known in and around Chicago.

http://www.prairieghosts.com/resurcem.html


Jen