Sept 19 (Reuters) - Human remains were found in a

burned-out car that struck an Energy Transfer ( 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.

"As of Thursday evening, Energy Transfer ( ET ) announced that the

fire has been extinguished," the City of Deer Park said in a

statement.

"Energy Transfer ( ET ) is working closely with local authorities

to manage the response and are cooperating in the

investigation."

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 ( ET ) 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 shale

fields in Texas to Energy Transfer's ( ET ) Mont Belvieu fractionators.