Impact damage, yes, accident, if the front beam was shoved backwards it can cause the mounting bosses to crack.
From inside, obviously, a rod coming thru the block.

From what you're describing where the leak is, it doesn't sound like a block problem. If it's above the trans and leaking onto it, it could be, a couple of things:

Pull the distributor look at the heater hose going into the head, it's VERY hard to see with the distributor in the car. It can only go in one way so dont worry about screwing up the timing too much.

Check the water outlet where the upper hose goes to the head, the o-ring gasket leaks sometimes there. check the small hoses that heat the pcv line while you're looking.
There is also a bypass hose coming out of the back of the cylinder head, just under the intake, check it.
Also look at the thermostat housing, they sometimes leak as well.

If all of those are dry, clean everything, fill the system and rent or borrow a cooling system pressure tester, put no more than 15 lbs in the system and carefully watch that area.

The only other things, which are rare is the headgasket leaking from the side onto the transmission or a cracked block up at the very top by the trans.

What trans, manual or auto and has it ever been out of the car?