AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 70 MPH, I HEARD A LOUD "SMACK!" BEFORE THE ENGINE STALLED AND I LOST POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. LUCKILY, I'M PRETTY STRONG AND WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF TO THE SHOULDER. THE ENGINE WOULD START BUT NOT TURN OVER WITH 4 OR 5 ATTEMPTS. IT STARTED ON THE FIFTH OR SIXTH TRY BUT WOULD NOT IDLE. I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO GET IT TO START AND ON MY WAY TO THE MECHANIC, I COULD TELL SOMETHING WAS BROKEN IN THE ENGINE. AFTER INSPECTING THE ENGINE AND LOOKING INTO IT, IT'S BEEN DETERMINED THAT A VALVE SPRING BROKE AND SENT THE VALVE THROUGH THE PISTON AND INTO THE CYLINDER, EFFECTIVELY CEASING THE ENGINE WHILE THE VEHICLE TRAVELED AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. *TR