Knowles Family Encounter: UFO Lifts Car Off Road on Eyre Highway, Australia
At 4 AM on January 21, 1988, the Knowles family — Faye and sons Patrick (24), Sean (21), and Wayne (18) — driving along the desolate Eyre Highway in Western Australia encounter an egg-shaped object with blinding light. The object pursues their car; at close to 100 mph, they hear a loud thud on the roof and feel the car being lifted off the road. Faye reaches through the rear window and feels something 'warm, soft, and rubbery, like a warm sponge.' A smell like dead bodies fills the car, voices become slow and low-pitched, and Faye feels something 'going into our heads.' The car drops, bursting a tire. A truck driver 30 minutes later and 50 miles away reports a similar UFO buzzing his boat, and tuna fishermen in the Great Australian Bight experience similar voice distortion. Police in Ceduna note the family's emotional distress and roof dents. Dr. Richard Haines finds 'possible trace of astatine, a radioactive chemical that can only be produced synthetically.' Faye Knowles' hand becomes red and swollen — similar to Betty Cash's radiation effects in 1980.
Background
EVENT TITLE: Knowles Family Encounter: UFO Lifts Car Off Road on Eyre Highway, Australia
EVENT DATE: 1988-01-21
EVENT TYPE: sighting
EXISTING SUMMARY: At 4 AM on January 21, 1988, the Knowles family — Faye and sons Patrick (24), Sean (21), and Wayne (18) — driving along the desolate Eyre Highway in Western Australia encounter an egg-shaped object with blinding light. The object pursues their car; at close to 100 mph, they hear a loud thud on the r
The Knowles family encountered a strange object while driving along the Eyre Highway in Western Australia. The object, described as having a bright light, appeared in the early morning hours and seemingly interacted with their vehicle.
The Incident
At 4 AM on January 21, 1988, Faye Knowles and her sons Patrick (24), Sean (21), and Wayne (18) were driving east along the Eyre Highway in Western Australia. They had just passed the town of Madura, heading towards Mundrabilla. Sean was driving.
A bright light appeared ahead of them, low over the road. The family approached the light.
Investigation
The provided text does not contain information about any official investigation into the Knowles family encounter.
Significance
The Knowles family encounter is noted as one of the more memorable and interesting UFO sightings of 1988. While 1988 was not considered a particularly notable year for UFO sightings overall (with the exception of Gulf Breeze and a few other developments), this case stands out as particularly strange. The case occurred along the desolate Eyre Highway.