Mechanical issue triggered Monday vehicle fire at north edge of Beatrice

BEATRICE – Gage County Sheriff’s officials have released more information on a car fire that broke out at the north edge of Beatrice Monday afternoon but did not injure the driver or juvenile passengers.

The small vehicle caught fire just after two p.m. along West Hickory Road and South 1^st Road, near the Homestead Trail.  A deputy investigating found that the driver had left the scene and was heading to the nearby Beatrice Community Hospital for a scheduled medical appointment.

Beatrice Rural Firefighters responded to the blaze, putting out the vehicle fire along with a small grass fire that ignited just east of the vehicle’s location.

A Nebraska Fire Marshal investigator was summoned and it was determined the cause of the fire was likely a mechanical issue.  The vehicle was towed away.