Gas leaking in air filter! HELP!

Hi, I have a 1987 Chevy Celebrity which puzzled me today. I was driving the car as normal and came to a red light. The car shut off and I thought, hey that's simple enough, I'll just start it back up and take it to be services as soon as possible. The kicker is that the car didn't start back up. It had no problem cranking but wouldn't turn over.

I popped the hood and got out and noticed instantly the smell of gas. I located it by the smell and popped open the air filter and there it was. There was gas leaking from the oil filter. I'd never seen or heard of that happening before so I dropped the hood and with some fellow good motorist pushed the car to the side of the road to get a better look.

It turns out with every attempt to get the car started by turning the key gas was spewing in the air filter. Not an incredible amount but enough not to get the car started. After going into the filter it would naturally leak out onto the ground. I didn't want to make the situation any worse or dangerous in this case so I called for a tow.

I have no idea what is wrong or how to address the issue. After taking it to my mechanic and telling him what had happened and then giving him a first hand looked he seemed puzzled. I don't want to spend an arm and a leg having him play trial and error so I'd like to pinpoint what exactly may be the cause or at least narrow down the possibilities. It's at the mechanic's shop now but I want to call him and tell him what it is before he calls me with a guess.

Please help and your answers are greatly appreciated. Smell and popped open the air filter and there it was. There was gas leaking from the oil filter. I'd never seen or heard of that happening before so I dropped the hood and with some fellow good motorist pushed the car to the side of the road to get a better look.

It turns out with every attempt to get the car started by turning the key gas was spewing in the air filter. Not an incredible amount but enough not to get the car started. After going into the filter it would naturally leak out onto the ground. I didn't want to make the situation any worse or dangerous in this case so I called for a tow.

I have no idea what is wrong or how to address the issue. After taking it to my mechanic and telling him what had happened and then giving him a first hand looked he seemed puzzled. I don't want to spend an arm and a leg having him play trial and error so I'd like to pinpoint what exactly may be the cause or at least narrow down the possibilities. It's at the mechanic's shop now but I want to call him and tell him what it is before he calls me with a guess.

Please help and your answers are greatly appreciated.