So sorry to hear of this - and glad no one was hurt - I have never seen anything or heard of anything like this happening with a washer before.
I had my vacuum cleaner explode a few months back - had never heard of that happening ever before either; just glad I was behind it instead of in front of it... It scared my cat to the point I did not see her for a full day and then she peeked out at me from under the bed, as to say "All clear out there?" lol
I'm thinking poor workmanship when it was manufactured; almost scares a person to buy anything anymore...