No matter what part of the world you are from, we’ve all heard some ghost story about a phantom hitchhiker that stalks motorists on some long stretch of a less traveled road. The stories usually culminate with the hitchhiker being offered a lift to an unknown destination and suddenly without warning the mysterious passenger disappears from the automobile without leaving a trace, frightening the driver.

There are countless stories like these in children’s ghost story books. I used to love reading these types of ghostly tales while in grade school, scaring the hell out of me. As I grew older, the stories became comical because of their redundant storyline.  However, can these types of stories come from actual events that took place?

Halesowen News (UK) has a story about a recent rash of a  ‘phantom hitchhiker’ that has been reported on Bromsgrove Road (UK).

Full source: halesowennews.co.uk

GHOST-BUSTERS from Halesowen are hunting ‘a phantom figure seen along the Bromsgrove Road’.

The local paranormal research group, Parasearch, received reports of the alleged ghost in Romsley last week with the latest sighting occurring on the night of Monday May 2.

Parasearch chairman David Taylor said: “As the witness was driving home down the Bromsgrove Road towards the Manchester Inn, he was startled to see he figure of a young woman standing by the side of the road.

“She was in her mid-30’s with black hair and a cream cloak. She was holding a long, old fashioned walking staff.”

Parasearch are currently investigating reports of haunted roads in the area, and would be keen to hear from any motorists who may have have strange experiences along this stretch of road.

David Taylor added: “We have a large number of reports of ghosts seen along roads in the Halesowen area. These sightings are all made by believable people who have been genuinely shocked by what they have seen”.

Now before you dismiss this as a product of urban legend, let me remind you of the documented ‘phantom hitchhiker’ ghost that once plagued a highway in Uniondale South Africa.