In the predawn hours of a routine commute, a North Carolina driver struck something that defied explanation, an arched-backed creature larger than any dog, staring him down before vanishing without a trace. Was it an unknown cryptid haunting the Black River woods, or did he collide with something not of this world?

"It was back in 2021. I was working in Red Springs, and my routine was like clockwork, up before the sun, out the door by 3:45 AM sharp. I lived in Rocky Point, and my drive took me along Highway 210. It was always quiet, pitch black that early in the morning, especially since it was during daylight saving time. I had gotten used to the silence and stillness of those dark, wooded backroads. Nothing ever really startled me, until that morning.

I had just passed the Black River and was driving through a thickly wooded area, probably about 20 minutes past it. That’s when I saw something on the road up ahead. At first, I thought it was just a raccoon, no big deal. But as I got closer, I realized this wasn’t a raccoon. It wasn’t like anything I had ever seen before.

The creature started crossing the road, and as I approached, it didn’t scurry off like most animals. Instead, it stopped right in the middle of the lane and stared straight at me. It had an arched back, almost like a cat ready to pounce, but sharper and more unnatural. It walked on all fours, but the way it moved sent a chill down my spine. It was bigger than any dog I had ever seen, but it didn’t look like a dog at all.

I didn’t have time to react or room to swerve. I hit it dead-on. The impact was like nothing I had ever felt. It felt as if my car was thrown. My Honda Civic started losing power immediately. The dashboard lights flickered, and for a moment, I thought the engine was going to cut off right there in the middle of nowhere. But somehow, the car continued to move. 

I made it to work, but all day, I couldn’t stop thinking about what I had hit. After my shift, I drove back to the exact spot I remembered, but there was nothing. No body, no blood, not even a skid mark. It was as if nothing had ever happened. 

I never talked about it, not until now. Honestly, I didn’t think anyone would believe me. But to this day, I still don’t know what I saw that night. All I know is that I hit something… and it wasn’t from around here." P