Brake Electric Antilock problems of the 1999 Mercedes Benz 300

Exiting the freeway, vehicle would not decelerate with brakes applied, abs system was locking & unlocking, and tires were spinning on wet pavement. Cruise control had not been engaged. With collision imminent, driver moved gear selector to neutral, engine then raced to tachometer red-line, and stayed there. Driver turned engine off, waited several seconds and restarted engine. Vehicle has performed normally since.