GATESVILLE (August 11, 2009)--Authorities were investigating Tuesday after dozens of Coryell County residents reported a loud explosion in the sky that sounded like a sonic boom.

There were also several unconfirmed reports of falling debris, but none has been located, so far.

At least one resident also reported seeing a vapor trail.

Coryell County Chief Deputy Joe Blakely said about 30 residents called 911 within minutes after the explosion at around 12:20 p.m. Tuesday.

Fort Hood told the sheriff’s office that no military or civilian aircraft appeared on radar in the Gatesville area at the time of the explosion, Blakely said.

At this point, it appears either space junk or a meteor that burned up as it entered the atmosphere caused the boom.

Dr. Truell Hyde, a Baylor University physics professor and vice provost for research, spoke with sheriff’s officials and said he assumes it was either a natural event such as a meteor or a manmade event such as orbital debris.

“The odds would favor some sort of orbital debris re-entering the atmosphere,” he said in a statement sent to News 10.

About the same time as the explosion, a grass fire was reported along FM 182 north of Gatesville, but Blakely said it was not related and was probably caused by a discarded cigarette.