hehe! And even if the used car salesman is telling the truth, she may have been "The Little Old Lady From Pasadena"!! (If you get that reference, you're old, too!)

In all the years I was in the bike biz, I never saw a break like that. Matter of fact, the ONLY times I've ever seen a fork give way in the middle of the steerer like that were when the quill stem binder bolt was overtightened dramatically on some of the 70s and 80s era aluminum steerers. Viscounts and Alans come to mind. But those all resulted in a vertical split first and a noticable bulging from the inside out. I can't be sure from the pic, but I don't think I see any of that here.

Absent that, my guess is this almost had to be a metallurgical flaw, and not from any abuse the little old lady put to it. I don't expect, however, that information will have ANY effect whatsoever on that sinking feeling you've had in the pit of your stomach for the last couple of days!

Glad you guys are OK.