Orange ball of light that disappeared/reappeared multiple times

Initially Witnessed the object while travelling South on Hwy 5 passing by the Port of Stockton and Hwy 4 Interchange. It appeared to be somewhere between Stockton and Tracy (looking South, South/West from Hwy 5 S). Seemingly just one bright orange object about the size of a star as that's all it appeared to be at first. The object then disappeared then reappeared slightly larger. It moved, leaving a short trail of light behind it and seemed to stop, disappear/reappear, and then break apart into tiny fragments before reforming back into one circular shape. The object then disappeared for about a minute or two and reappeared only for a moment as we approached French Camp in an even more Southernly direction. This time much larger and brighter before disappearing finally.