NUFORC Sighting 15020

Occurred: 2000-11-19 04:30 Local
Reported: 2000-11-23 00:00 Pacific
Duration: 10 seconds +
No of observers: 1

Location: Reedpoint, MT, USA

Shape: Fireball
Characteristics: Aura or haze around object, Left a trail

the early morning sky lit up brightly with a falling object to the north

As a westbound long haul trucker I had the whole area of mountains and all the sky around me light up in a yellowish tint allowing me to see clearly in darkness..I first thought that I was observing a winter-time electrical storm, but then realized that there was no lightning, just a huge flash lightening up the whole sky..I leaned down to look under my tractors visor to see a quite large fireball on the northern horizon appearing to be plumpeting towards earth..Over many years of driving I have seen a few fireballs in the sky, but this one was moving slower, perhaps, just away and down..It seemed bo be tumbling, to give me a first impression that it could have been a terrible accident, possibly an aerial tanker refuling a jet..........Bothered me because one of my sons flys ((position deleted to avoid possible identification of son, who is a skilled pilot in the military)) ((base deleted)) in California...I expected to hear some kind of info on the AM radio shortly about it but nothing....Didn't really want to call 911 because it would have been missuse of an emergency #..Being a trucker I kept on traveling only to hear repeat talk shows this Sunday morning...This had to be seen by many travelers and I wam just curious as to find out what it was because I cannot explain the huge flash before sighting the object....thank you so much and I will check back in with the websight to see if someone else may have reported the sighting…

Posted 2000-12-02