Moniteau County deputies find stolen, flaming vehicle on railroad tracks

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Moniteau County deputies are looking for car thieves after finding a burning vehicle on railroad tracks.

Deputies and firefighters received a call about the vehicle at about 1 a.m. Tuesday, the Moniteau County Sheriff's Office said in a news release. The vehicle was on tracks in the Clarksburg Road area just west of California and was in flames when first responders got there, the sheriff's office said.

Union Pacific had to halt train traffic in the area until the vehicle was removed.

The sheriff's office said it traced the vehicle back to its owner, who lives near Tipton and didn't know the vehicle was stolen.