Vernoux en Vivarais 1987 and the mystery lights

Summary

On the night of October 1, 1987, a driver and his son in the Ardèche department of France observed mysterious lights in the countryside. The lights, spaced several meters apart, appeared on three separate occasions during successive stops. The experience sparked curiosity and confusion, as there was no immediate explanation. However, the investigation revealed that the lights were not of supernatural origin, but from a tanker truck specifically equipped with headlights and two 40-watt projectors on the rear, used for milk collection. Although the case was classified as “A” by the GEIPAN (indicating a clear explanation), the witnesses' description and the repeated nature of the observation led to an interesting analysis of how everyday objects can appear inexplicable under certain conditions.