Two people were found dead in a car that had been reported stolen in rural Howard County Sunday afternoon.

The Howard County Sheriff’s Department received a report that a 2013 Chevrolet Camaro had been stolen around noon on Sunday. Later that afternoon, passersby on Route J, southwest of Fayette, spotted a vehicle that had crashed onto a creek bank only about three miles from where the theft had occurred. The vehicle and license plate matched that of the stolen Camero.

Inside were Timothy J. Mackenzie, Jr., 27, of Tipton and a passenger, Haden T. Singleton, 18, of Columbia. Both were pronounced dead at the scene by Howard County Coroner Frank Flaspohler at 4:30 p.m. They were taken to the Boone County Medical Examiner’s office in Columbia.

The Howard County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the alleged theft. A crash report by the Missouri State Highway Patrol said the car was eastbound when it left the right side of the roadway and overturned.

Speed likely played a factor in the crash, according to Sheriff Mike Neal. Neither man was wearing a seatbelt when they were extracted from the car.

It is likely the car was stolen overnight while the owner was not at home. The keys were allegedly taken from the house where the car was located. It is not known just how the men arrived at the rural residence. Sheriff Neal said the case is still under investigation.