Then you should stop driving in Parking lots.

How much HP does your Pathy have? Just wondering if it's one of the old 140 HP ones.

As you have read, it doesn't happen a lot, but it does happen. I have never blown a diff, but I ripped something up in my Rover's transfer case, which should've held out and let a diff or a half axle go first.

I imagine the halfaxle contacted the outer CV Joint, causing it to deform, and therefore fracture. the angle of the halfaxle (at full droop) and the wheel being turned, probably gave him the most extreme angle available, either binding up the function of the CV joint (they lose power as you move farther away from 0 degrees) or damaging the outer CV joint to the point of failure. I actually think the first is the case. try sticking a ball hex driver into a hex nut and turning it. first straight on, then at 10 degrees, then 2o, then 30, until you can't anymore. I am sure the joint was not made for such extreme angles. the Hummer, which has CVs capable of such angles have a 2 pivot CV in them.