Human remains found in SUV that triggered Texas gas pipeline fire

Sept. 19 (UPI) -- Deer Park, Texas, police on Thursday confirmed human remains were found in an SUV that caused a days-long raging pipeline fire Monday.

Deer Park Police said in a Thursday statement, "On September 19, 2024, at 7 a.m., the Deer Park Police Department was able to access the site and remove the white vehicle associated with the pipeline fire incident. During the processing, they were able to recover and remove human remains."

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The SUV went through bushes and smashed through a fence, striking a pipeline valve that triggered the Monday explosion and fire, according to witnesses.

No further information was provided on the identity of the SUV driver or details on exactly what happened and why.

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The fire was still burning Thursday as officials said they hoped to complete repairs on the pipeline by 6 p.m.

"This has developed into a criminal investigation and will be actively ongoing until further information is available," the City of Deer Park statement added. "This will be all the information that will be released until the full investigation is concluded."

A continuing large police presence was at the scene Thursday.

Witness Sherry Richard told Click 2 Houston they watched the SUV crash through the fence and into the pipeline valve, which sent the vehicle into the air.

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"Once it hit the ground, it just ignited ...," she said. "It was just horrible because your first instinct is to go make sure that person's OK, but you can't do anything."

The damage done by the SUV and resulting fire caused forced the evacuation of hundreds of residents. Thousands of people were left without power, but it was restored by Wednesday.

Steve Hutto and his wife, Diane, returned home to find it destroyed by the fire.

"I thought it was a nuclear bomb," Diane Hutto told KHOU 11. "I just fell out of the chair and the dogs were already out the door trying to get out and then when I got out of the door downstairs, I knew what it was -- the pipeline."

Pipeline owner Energy Transfer is working with contractors to contain the fire and when that's complete damaged pipeline parts can be replaced.

According to Deer Park Office of Emergency Management spokesperson Kaitlyn Bluejacket, the city police and the Harris County Medical Examiner are conducting the next steps in the investigation into the incident.

The evacuation order for residents was lifted Wednesday at 6 p.m.