Sounds like it could be sleep deprivation, like you said.
While driving from fla to ny straight through I was driving behind a truck with some paint or rust or something on the back and it morphed into a creepy clown face that wAs staring down at me! Lack of sleep can def cause you to see shiit.
That was about the time i pulled into a rest stop and took a break...

I hope you get it figured out soon. Take care.