What Happens When a Meteorite Hits Your Car?

TL;DR

When a meteorite strikes your car, it can cause significant damage without causing fatalities. Notable instances include Jose Martin, whose car suffered only minor injuries, and Michelle Nap, who sold the meteorite that struck her car for a substantial profit. The first confirmed human to be hit by a meteorite was Ann Hodges, who sustained injuries when a meteorite crashed through her home.

Transcript

On June the 21st 1994 a Spanish man by the name of Jose Martin was out for a drive with his wife when he got definitive proof that the universe doesn't like him or at least doesn't like his car how well it dropped a nearly two kilogram hunk of space rock that just moments ago have been traveling at several thousand miles per hour right through his ... Read More

Key Insights

• 🚙 Meteorite strikes on vehicles can cause damage and injury, but fatalities are rare.
• 💩 Some individuals have profited from selling meteorites that hit their vehicles.
• 🧑‍🦳 Hodges is the first confirmed person to have been hit by a meteorite, making her case significant.
• ❓ Meteorites can cause significant destruction, such as the Tunguska event in Siberia.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did Jose Martin's car get hit by a meteorite?

Martin's car was struck by a meteorite while he was driving, with the impact causing damage to his dashboard but only resulting in a broken finger for him.

Q: What was the outcome for Michelle Nap after her car was hit by a meteorite?

Initially believed to be an act of vandalism, it was later discovered that Nap's car was hit by a meteorite. Despite insurance refusing to cover the damage, Nap sold the meteorite and her car for a profit.

Q: How did an Hodges react to being hit by a meteorite?

Initially thinking there had been an explosion, Hodges realized she had been hit by a meteorite when she found the rock and felt pain in her hip and arm. She called the police and spent the day in the hospital.

Q: What happened to the meteorites that struck the vehicles?

Martin's meteorite was part of a larger meteorite that had broken up in the Earth's atmosphere. Nap sold her meteorite for a profit, while Hodges donated hers to a museum.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Jose Martin's car was hit by a meteorite while driving, luckily causing only a broken finger.

• Michelle Nap's car was struck by a meteorite while parked, leading her to sell the meteorite for a profit.

• An Hodges was the first confirmed person to be hit by a meteorite, suffering injuries and damage to her home.