ENGINE SUDDEN SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING ON HIGH TRAFFIC HIGHWAY RESULTED IN LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND QUICK REDUCTION IN VEHICLE SPEED. DRIVER MADE EFFORTS TO PULL OVER OUT THE TRAFFIC BUT FASTER TRAFFIC FROM BEHIND CAUGHT UP WITH THE DISABLED VEHICLE AND RESULTED IN NUMBER OF COLLISIONS. IN TOTAL THREE VEHICLES WERE SEVERE DAMMAGED AND TWO OTHER DRIVERS WERE INJURED. CAUSE OF THE FAILURE IS ATTRIBUTED TO FAILURE OF THE CRANCK SHAFT SENSOR.*AK