Chlorine gas leak injures 40 students
COLD SPRING, Minn. (AP) — Nearly 40 students were injured Wednesday by a chlorine gas leak in the pool area of a high school where a shooting more than four years ago killed two boys, officials said.
Thirty-six students and one adult were taken to hospitals from Rocori High School, Mayor Doug Schmitz said. At least one other person was injured.
Twelve students and the adult were admitted overnight to St. Cloud Hospital for further treatment, hospital spokeswoman Jeanine Nistler said. None was critically ill, she said.
The leak was discovered before 2 p.m., and the building was evacuated, said Stearns County Chief Sheriff’s Deputy Bruce Bechtold.
The leak was contained within an hour, he said.
The cause was being investigated.
Rocori High was the site of a deadly shooting 41‚Ñ2 years ago. John Jason McLaughlin was 15 when he took a gun to school on Sept. 24, 2003. He is serving a life sentence for killing Aaron Rollins, 17, and Seth Bartell, 14.