ok i don't know what happened but my wife was driving to go get the kids from school and the van wouldn't turn and she had to push very hard on the brakes to get it to stop she turned it off then back on and she try'd to rev up the engine and it did nothing the check engine light came on and it just didn't want to work i got up and it start'd and ran just fine for me so would anyone have any idea's on what the problem might be

 

It almost sounds as though the van stalled on your wife.
When the engine is off there is no power steering or power brakes which would explain why it seemed to not turn and stepping hard on the brakes to stop.

The mention of the check engine light coming on ... you should take it in somewhere to see if a problem code is stored.