Ford Explorer Self Acceleration/Braking Problem (help)

Today, like an idiot, I decided to accelerate to about 60 mph on a quiet road. As I braked I noticed something felt strange. While I was turning into my neighborhood the car was slowing down, but pulling against me and making a lot of noise while I was putting a ton of force on the brakes. Whenever I would take my foot off the brake in my neighborhood the car would accelerate very quickly. This occured up until I was able to take my foot off the brake and not have it shoot like a rocket. It felt completely normal at that point. When thinking about what could have caused it, I realized I may have left the parking break on. I am completely unsure whether I did or not.

Could this have caused it?
Should it be taken to mechanic immediately even though it feels fine?
Is there any inspection I can do?

Welcome to the forum!

Leaving the parking brake on would not cause it to want to accelerate when you removed your foot from the brake. That would seem more like maybe the throttle cable got stuck on something or the throttle plate stuck in an open position. What model year is your Explorer? Knowing that will help us determine if you have a cable actuated throttle or an electronic throttle.

Even though everything seems fine now, you will want to make every attempt to determine what happened so you can fix it. The next time you may be accelerating hard to avoid an accident and you don't want to have the throttle stick again.

-Rod

Thanks for the reply Rod. It is a 1997 Ford Explorer XLT.

Also, if it helps there was a burning smell when I turned off the car.

-Sam

The burning smell was probably the brakes. The 1997 would have a cable actuated throttle body. I'd check with cable and ease of operation of the throttle plate to wide open (with the engine off).

-Rod

Thanks for all the help Rod.

-Sam