Reports of phantom hitchhikers have been reported on the A38 road between Wellington and Taunton in Somerset since the 1950s. Of particular note is a man in a grey overcoat, reported by many people including lorry driver Harry Unsworth who confessed to having given the man a lift on more than one occasion, typically in heavy rain. Unsworth claims he picked the man up at aorund 3 am and gave him a four mile trip during which he recounted tales of accidents that had occurred during the last few days. In November 1958, Unsworth claims that the man requested he drive to a spot where he had left his luggage. On arriving at the spot the man got out and after twenty minutes when he did not reappear, Unsworth drove off, angry that the man had wasted his time. Three miles up the road he saw the man again, realising it was impossible that he could have reached that location within the short time period. The man in the grey coat stood in the middle of the highway to distract the driver who now ignored him and avoided driving on that section of the road again.
