(Reuters) -Human remains were found in a burned-out car that struck an Energy Transfer (NYSE:ET) natural gas liquids pipeline earlier this week in Houston, prompting a criminal investigation, officials said on Thursday.
Police removed the vehicle that hit the pipeline and the Harris County medical examiners recovered human remains, the Deer Park Office of Emergency Management said in a statement.
Medical examiners will begin identifying the remains, it said.
Energy Transfer on Thursday said a fire at its natural gas liquid pipeline in La Porte, Texas, that started on Monday continued to safely burn itself out, and that it was in the process of installing isolation equipment.
"The investigation into the cause of the damage to our pipeline is underway by local law enforcement agencies," Energy Transfer said in a statement.
The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the reported criminal investigation or human remains discovered in the car.
The fire is suspected to involve the Justice pipeline, according to researchers from investment firm Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co. However, Energy Transfer has not confirmed the name or capacity of the pipeline.
The Justice pipeline, which entered service in 2012 with a capacity of 375,000 barrels per day, carries Y-grade - a mixture of natural gas liquids - from the Permian and Eagle Ford (NYSE:F) shale fields in Texas to Energy Transfer's Mont Belvieu fractionators.