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With the vehicle stopped, I put the tube of hand cream between gear stick and electric hand brake lever and pulled back the gear stick; sure enough, the movement of the gearstick forced the end of the tube onto the edge of the hand brake lever and lifted it up (I took a picture but I can seem to upload it). Based on this, I think that this is likely the cause of what occurred. I wish I'd looked down to the gear lever when it happened, but when the car suddenly slowed down on me my first thought was that I'd accidentally selected the wrong gear, and after trying again my thoughts moved on to the engine or clutch being the issue. Thanks to everyone for their replies to my post.