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, sparking a criminal investigation,

local media reported

on Thursday citing officials.

Energy Transfer ( ET ) on Thursday said a fire at its natural gas

liquid (NGL) 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. We

understand that the car has been removed from the site," Energy

Transfer ( ET ) 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.

"There was a car at the site... it's still under

investigation, so we're not releasing much information right

now," the Deer Park police department said.

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.