car died at 40mph engine quit and wont restart

Could be a number of different things....but a failed timing belt comes tomy mind.

Try putting a gallon of gas in it anyway. It is possible the fuel sending unit "float" is broken and giving a false reading. It may actually be out of gas. Turn key 3 times for 5 seconds each, but do not start, to try repriming fuel line and then see if it starts.