DIDN'T MEAN TO PRY ... Published July 2, 2007 By Torch Magazine Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canavaral, Florida -- While driving home from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a space center employee got quite a surprise. A large pry-bar pierced the front of his car, stopping inches from the driver's face. The pry-bar had been on the road, and another vehicle ran over it, kicking it up just enough to cause the hair-raising scene. The driver said he was in his usual "zone," keeping the proper distance, watching everything around him, but deep in the thought of the moment. Suddenly, there was a loud "kaboom" that sounded like it came from his car. He hadn't seen or heard anything that would warn him something was about to happen -- no brake lights, swerving cars, or anything. He moved the steering wheel back and forth a little. The tires were OK. He pushed on the brakes. They checked out OK too. He pressed the accelerator. The engine seemed to be running fine. There were no more noises of any kind. Then it caught his eye. He stared in disbelief at the huge steel pry-bar sticking out of the hood, pointing directly at his face. The hair stood up on his neck. No telling how long the pry bar had lain in the road, before the car in front of him ran over it and sent it into the air with just the right trajectory. When he pulled over and shut off his vehicle, the pry-bar had been welded to the hood, which was glowing cherry red where the bar touched it. The pry-bar had gone right through the battery. The driver said he felt fortunate to be alive and uninjured and that no one else was hurt. He also wanted to pass on this safety message: Secure the load that you are transporting, even if you are "just going a short distance." You don't want anything you are transporting to end up on the road and possibly harm other people or cause damage to other vehicles.