Wheel could be spin 360 degrees?

What has happened when my steering wheel system did not respond while driving and the wheel could be spin 360 degrees? I was driving along the highway. Suddenly, my car´s steering wheel system gave-up entirely. It would not respond to steer the car left or steer the car to the right or even able to maintain the car to go straight, because I could spin my steering wheel a whole 360 degrees, without having any steering control in any direction whatsoever. I was lucky to have driven slowly at the time.

I took the foot off the accelerator, I waited until the car speed began to reduce gradually until it stopped as simultaneously I had placed my foot pressing gently on the brakes. Because the steering wheel would not respond in any direction, the car was unsteerable and dangerously out of control. Can this mechanically occur? If I get an answer I will pay a donation, not before.