Video of a woman walking along the highway at night prompted ghost stories on social media. Watch video
WASHINGTON TWP. -- A young woman spotted walking in the dark along Route 55 earlier this week was a teen runaway from a local facility, police confirmed Friday.
A passing motorist shared video of the pedestrian dressed in white on Facebook, sparking theories ranging from it being a runaway to a ghost. She appeared to be wearing a white dress, a veil and carrying flowers, witnesses reported.
Facebook user Bill Hand posted the video early Tuesday morning. He said the woman was walking on the shoulder of Route 55 northbound before exit 56 in Deptford Township.
"Somebody please give me a reasonable explanation for this so I can sleep again," he said in his post, which has been shared more than 2,100 times on Facebook.
Hand said he contacted police immediately after seeing the woman.
Washington Township police confirmed the teen had walked away from Robin's Nest, a children's services organization, and was later located. After she was positively identified and officials confirmed she was not injured, she was returned to the facility. She has left Robin's Nest in the past, police confirmed.
Philly radio personality Big Daddy Graham spotted the pedestrian and was clearly rattled by the experience. In audio posted to YouTube from his radio program, the Wenonah resident spoke about passing the woman on Route 55 as he approached exit 53.
"I look to my right and in the dark there's somebody ... in a wedding dress and a wedding veil, carrying flowers," he recounted. "Let me tell you, it freaked me out."
Graham flagged down a state trooper a short distance away, he said. As the trooper pulled up, he asked Graham, "Is it about somebody in a wedding dress? We're on it."
With that, the trooper zoomed off and was joined by another as they headed back toward the area where the pedestrian was reported, Graham said.
Apart from what is seen in the video, police could not confirm if the teen was wearing a wedding gown or carrying flowers.
Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattGraySJT. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.