NO ONE WAS HURT IN THE ACCIDENT WHEN I HIT A PIECE OF METAL IN THE ROAD. THE OBJECT TORE OFF A BODY FRAME MEMBER AND THEN PUNCTURED THE PLASTIC FUEL TANK. GAS WAS LEAKING EVERYWHERE. I CAN NOT BELIEVE THAT ANYONE WOULD PLACE A PLASTIC FUEL TANK DIRECTLY IN THE PATH OF A FRONT WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLE. THE FRONT WHEELS BEING DRIVE WHEELS TEND TO PROPEL OBJECTS BACK AT THE TANKS. CONVERSATIONS WITH MECHANICS HAVE INFORMED ME THAT OVER TIME THE TANK WILL EVENTUALLY START TO LEAK FROM THE STONES THAT WILL BE THROWN BACK FROM THE FROMT WHEEL. I RECENTLLY READ IN THE LOCAL PAPER WHERE A FORD MINIVAN WITH A PLASTIC FUEL TANK DEVLOPED A LEAD WHILE TRAVELING ON A LOCAL ROAD AND HAD TO BE TOWED. IT IS EVEN ORE AMAZING TO ME THAT THESE SYSTEMS THAT ARE DESIGNED TO FAIL AND WILL IMPACT THE ENVIRONMENT IN A NEGATIVE WAY ARE LEGAL. IF THE CAR MARKERS ARE GOING TO USE PLASTIC FUEL TANKS THEY SHOULD NOT BE LOCATED IN A DIRECT PATH BEHIND A WHEEL AND THEY SHOULD HAVE A METAL SHIELD. *AK