WHILE DRIVING DONW A MAIN ROAD THE GAS PEDAL SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING AND WOULD NOT ENGAGE. I COULD NOT GET THE CAR TO MOVE FORWARD BUT IT WAS STILL RUNNING. I PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO STOP AND TURN THE CAR OFF. TURNED THE VEHICLE BACK ON TO SEE IF THE GAS PEDAL WOULD RE-ENGAGE, I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE 100FT AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN. I THEN "ROLLED" INTO AN EMPTY LOT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE SMOKE WAS NOTICED COMING OUT OF THE HOOD. I POPPED THE HOOD BUT DID NOT OPEN IT AND CALLED 911. WHILE ON THE PHONE WITH 911, A LOUD POP WAS HEARD UNDER THE HOOD, SPARKS WERE SEEN AND THE CAR CAUGHT FIRE.*DT*JB