UFO sighting in Texas City/Galveston in October/November, 1981. Anyone remember this?

One evening about 10:00 pm I had left night class at University of Houston Clear Lake campus to drive back to Galveston where I lived.  There was only one other car on the I45 South Highway around Texas City area.  The car came up next to me and I could see with peripheral vision that the driver was pointing upwards, but I was afraid to make eye contact.  
The next morning there were newspaper reports of an UFO sighting.
That night, my roommate and I, drove around Galveston Island looking for the UFO.  I was driving.  An extremely bright light coming from the sky blinded me, whereby I let go of the steering wheel to cover my face with my arms and immediately it was over.  
I quickly put the car in park and we both jumped out of the car to hear if maybe it were a helicopter, but it was totally quiet.  
Can anyone validate the sighting in this area during this time?
Witness indicates that the date of the incident is approximate.  PD