NO PRIOR TRANSMISSION TROUBLE; NO WARNING OF PROBLEM ON THE DATE OF INCIDENT. DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED ON THE APPROACH TO A NARROW FOUR-LANE HIGHWAY BRIDGE. THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE RPM SUDDENLY RACED WHILE THE FORWARD MOMENTUM LAGGED; THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN FINE, BUT THE TRANSMISSION NO LONGER PROVIDED ANY FORWARD POWER. THE VEHICLE SLOWED RAPIDLY DUE TO THE UPWARD GRADE OF THE BRIDGE, AND THERE WAS NO SHOULDER TO PULL OFF ONTO, WITH TRAFFIC BEARING DOWN AT 60+ MPH. THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION THEN CAUSED A FOUR-CAR ACCIDENT. DEFECT VEHICLE WAS NOT BADLY DAMAGED (ONLY MINOR REAR BUMPER CRUSH) BUT AFTER ACCIDENT IT STILL WOULD NOT MOVE IN GEAR, EVEN THOUGH ENGINE RAN FINE. HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AS OF THIS DATE. *TR