Authorities in Deer Park, Texas, have made a grim discovery following a pipeline fire that has been burning for four days. The incident occurred when an SUV struck an aboveground valve on a pipeline in suburban Houston, causing a massive fire.
After the fire subsided, police were able to access the area around the damaged pipeline. They removed a white SUV that had crashed into the valve equipment. Upon further investigation, human remains were found inside the vehicle.
The Harris County medical examiners are now working on the identification process of the recovered remains, a task that is expected to take some time.
The pipeline, owned by Dallas-based Energy Transfer, was damaged when the SUV driver left a Walmart parking lot, drove through a fence, and hit the pipeline valve. While the exact cause of the crash remains unclear, authorities have ruled out any terrorist involvement.
The 20-inch-wide pipeline carries natural gas liquids through Deer Park and La Porte, southeast of Houston. The valve equipment was protected by a chain-link fence topped with barbed wire, but details about additional safety measures have not been disclosed by Energy Transfer.
Despite the towering flames and thick black smoke that initially engulfed the area, air quality monitoring has shown no immediate risk to individuals. Nearly 1,000 homes were evacuated, and residents were ordered to shelter in place during the fire. However, authorities have started allowing residents to return home as the fire is expected to be extinguished by Thursday evening.
While a portion of a nearby highway remains closed, officials are working to ensure the safety of the surrounding community. Investigations into the cause of the pipeline fire are ongoing.
