Human remains were discovered in the burnt-out SUV at the heart of a pipeline explosion in suburban Houston. The case has now shifted to a criminal investigation as a team processing the vehicle found the remains inside. The identity of the remains is being determined, and it is expected to take some time.
Witnesses reported that the driver of the SUV may have experienced a medical event before the vehicle crashed into an aboveground valve, triggering the blast that damaged multiple homes and vehicles. Nearly 1,000 homes were evacuated, and residents were only able to return once the gas in the line had burned out.
The pipeline, owned by Energy Transfer based in Dallas, transports natural gas liquids through the Houston suburbs. The city is a hub for petrochemical industries with numerous refineries, plants, and pipelines. Incidents like this are not uncommon, and questions have been raised about the industry’s efforts to protect the public and the environment.
The explosion created a towering fireball that caused significant damage and led to the evacuation of a large number of homes. The investigation into the cause of the explosion and the discovery of human remains in the vehicle continues as authorities work to determine what happened and ensure the safety of the community.
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