E36 Car shutoff while driving!!!

[Compucepts@xxxxxxx]

I am posting this to the general list, because I am terrified something is
seriously wrong with my car. I was driving today, and about a mile after I
started up the car I was driving down the street and I noticed that when I
gave the car gas it didn't accelerate at all. Then I noticed that the tach was
showing 0 rpm. I then realized as I went to turn off the road into the nearest
parking lot that the power steering was gone and I had to force the car around
the corner. I sat there in a panic for a few seconds, restarted the car and it
drove fine. 

What could have possibly caused this??? Thanks in advance for any input.

David Koretz
'93 325i sharked 
BMWCCA #161655

------------------------------