Vanishing hitchhiker

<span class="SFPTagline"> From SCIFIPEDIA </span>

The vanishing hitchhiker is an urban legend that has a ghost who appears as a hitchhiker.

1 History
2 Versions
3 Hitchhiker Vanishes
4 Books
5 See Also
6 References

History

The story may be traced back several centuries to European folklore where it involved horses and carriages. The legend in its current form began to emerge with the rise and dominance of the car in American culture.

Versions

There are quite a few different versions. The haunting usually involves a particular stretch of road but in some cases the geographic area where the hitchhiker appears may be quite large. Some of the common themes and scenarios involve a tragic death or even murder, often connected in some manner to the road itself. The specter is usually seen hitchhiking along this area. The motorist in the tales may or may not stop to pick up the hitchhiker. Regardless, the spirit often ends up in the car of the driver, usually in the back seat if they were not picked up voluntarily. Sometimes death or harm befalls the driver, but not always. There is also usually a garment or other object left behind. Often a member of the deceased's family or a close friend will appear in the tale and identify the object as belonging to their dead family member or friend.

Hitchhiker Vanishes

After riding for awhile, the hitchhiker will often vanish, although sometimes he or she is just dropped off. Either way, the driver ultimately learns through some means that the hitchhiker as described has been dead for some time, usually for years. In a variation, sometimes the hitchhiker will prophesy future events for the driver.