died on interstate

2002 Sunfire with 38K mileage which after about 50 miles of interstate driving just died. The RPMs didnt drop as they would if you were to turn the car off manually...they slowely dropped till they were at zero never downshifting. I put the car in neutral and tried to start it up and it cranked fine but didnt fire up until I had coasted to about 45mph (about 20 seconds later). This happend about 7 more times on the way to my destination and happend 10 more times on the way home at miles 57, 92, 107, 135, 164, 183, 202, 232 and 245 miles into the trip. The "check engine" and "Maintence" dash indicators are both on. One mechanic suggested it could be a bad fuel filter but I find that hard to believe with the low miles...any advice would be very appreciative!!

Fuel filter could go in 30K miles, or sooner depending on when you get your gas, from where, and how low you run your tank. If it's just a filter, feel lucky. It could also be the fuel pump, which costs 100 times more than the fuel filter to replace.
I'm on my second fuel pump, and 30th filter, but I change it regularly. and it's a 95 with 200K miles on the body (5000 on the new motor)