Indiana: Cry Baby Bridge

This story is told about an old bridge located on County Road 675 near Anderson, Indiana. Anderson is located in the middle of Indiana in Madison County.

Crybaby Bridge near
Anderson, Indiana.

It is said that at midnight, people for years have heard the sounds of a baby crying below this bridge. Some witnesses state that they hear the sounds of water splashing after the baby's cries.

One familiar backstory states a baby was thrown from the backseat after a car accident on this bridge. The impact killed it, and ever since, people have claimed to hear this baby crying.

Another story told in the late 1950s, states that a teenage unwed mother delivered her baby in the backseat of a car—she then threw it over the railing of this bridge.

This story becomes even darker when it mentions this baby did not land in the water but instead landed on a bank, where it was severely injured at impact.

Its cries horrified the mother, and she left in a panic. Several other cars passed, and they heard the screams, but they did not stop to investigate.

This baby finally died several hours later, from exposure and its injuries. When the body was found, the authorities could not identify it.

The mother's guilt drove her to return to the bridge several more times—each time she heard her baby’s cries.

This legend then caught on, and others began to claim they heard the baby crying as well.

This backstory has drawn many people to this bridge—be forewarned, the residents call the police if there is activity on this bridge late at night. This is because there has been considerable vandalism in the area.

Cry Baby Bridge stories are common in America. South Carolina has a bridge with a similar tale connected to it, like the one above.

On this blog, there are two other Cry Baby Bridge stories shared here and here. 

Dead Man’s Curve

There are several versions of this tale told across America. This account is from the east coast.

An hour before the clock had struck twelve and now it was January 1, 1952. The three young couples were in a festive mood for they had been drinking.

One husband, Bill Gardner volunteered to drive the others home since he had not been drinking except for a few campaign sips to toast the New Year.

The road ahead of their car was deserted but Bill became concerned when he saw another car appear--seemingly out of nowhere. It was traveling straight down the middle of the road.

Bill was worried it was going to hit them head on but in the nick of time he was able to cut sharply to the right. As he hit a curve his car crashed down a steep embankment.

Bill climbed out of his car amidst the dust and smoke. He was bleeding but he managed to inspect the condition of his passengers. They were all pinned in the car. They were hurt but still alive.

He started to climb up the hill to get help. As he reached the highway he saw a man standing near the edge looking down.

The man approached him and stated his name was Benjamin Prudden from New Haven. He offered to give Bill a ride to the hospital.

Just before Bill fainted he heard the man say he would send an ambulance back for his friends.

Several weeks later, after Bill had recovered from the accident he went in search of Ben to thank him for saving his life and his friend’s lives. With inquires he was told a family by the name of Prudden lived in Derby.

He borrowed a car since his was totaled and drove there. He asked at a shop where he could find a Benjamin Prudden. He received some odd looks but the shopkeeper offered to show him.

They got in the shopkeepers car and Bill was surprised to see him drive into the town’s cemetery. He was led to a tombstone with this inscription on it:

“Here Lies Benjamin Prudden, 1846-1906”

Bill inquired if there might be another man by the same name, he was told no. The shopkeeper was not surprised by his story about the stranger who helped him in the early hours of New Year’s Day.

He was the 3^rd person that had claimed to see Benjamin Prudden since he had died 45 years before. The shopkeeper mentioned that Ben had lost his life on the same curve Bill’s car had veered off of.