While driving my 1996 Lincoln Town Car on the highway it jerked shut down and it coasted to a stop?

While driving my 1996 Lincoln Town Car on the highway, I experienced a jerk, the car shut down, and it coasted to a stop. I checked the battery and the battery was dead. I replaced the battery and then tried to start the vehicle and the battery cables started to smoke. Everything comes on the vehicle, it just will not start.|||check the alternator and starter..... the alternators those years are bad about over charging......which can and will fry batteries and wiring.....so pull it out and go have it bench tested.....then if thats ok then do that same for the starter...if both ok start checking the cables first then the wiring...