The La Porte/Deer Park liquid natural gas pipeline continues to burn Monday evening, but officials have released what they believe caused the explosion this morning.
Deer Park police said Monday evening that a white SUV entered the adjacent pipeline the right-of-way after plowing through a fence at a nearby Walmart. They then hit the pipeline, which triggered the explosion and subsequent fire.
They said there is nothing to suggest terroristic activity, and believe it is an isolated incident. They are working to identify the vehicle and driver, whose status is unknown.
Four people total were injured in the fire, including a firefighter who suffered minor injuries. Two were hospitalized, and another was treated for heat-related issues.
Two neighborhoods were evacuated, and firefighters drenched nearby homes in water to prevent the fire from spreading. As of Monday evening, the fire has shrunk significantly but is still burning.
The company that runs the line, Energy Transfer, has had eight incidents in 2024 alone, including one similar instance of a car hitting another pipeline earlier this year. In all, they have accrued $1.4 million in property damage, which includes infrastructure damage, not include private property.
Energy Transfer says the valve is shut off, but the fire is expected to burn into Tuesday.