Propane leak suspected in deadly Sherman explosion

A deadly explosion in Grayson County is believed to have been caused by a propane leak, according to authorities.

The incident occurred at a residence in the 4300 block of Sistrunk Street in Sherman. The explosion and subsequent fire completely destroyed the home, rendering it unrecognizable. Neighbors contacted 911 around 8:15 p.m. on Sunday. Upon arrival, firefighters discovered the homeowner deceased inside the premises, while a woman was found trapped under a collapsed wall.

Investigators noted that the debris field extended approximately 300 feet from the site of the explosion.

Grayson County Fire Marshal John Weda explained, “The wall kind of protected her from the fire.”

Firefighters worked diligently for about an hour to rescue the woman, who has been identified by relatives as Sharon Bateman. She was airlifted to Medical City Plano and remains in critical condition as of Monday evening. James Bateman, identified as Sharon’s husband, was found deceased inside the residence.

David Vogel, a longtime friend and insurance agent, fondly remembered James Bateman, describing him as a “good man” with great character who cherished his family.

Authorities suspect that propane was a contributing factor to the explosion. The Batemans had reportedly alerted other family members about the smell of propane an hour before the blast.

“They use propane. We had a 250-gallon propane tank here on site plus they got another 100-gallon tank in the back for another building,” Weda stated.

The investigation into the incident is ongoing.