Nine Easton Middle students sent to hospital after being exposed to pepper-spray on school bus
EASTON, Md. – Nine Easton Middle School students were sent to the hospital on Tuesday after another student accidentally discharged pepper spray on a school bus.
At 2:40 p.m. on Oct. 27, officers with the Easton Police Department responded to Easton Elementary School after receiving a report that students on a school bus were exposed to pepper spray. Upon arrival, police observed several students coughing and complaining of pepper spray odor. According to the Talbot County Public Schools bus driver, after picking up students from Easton Middle for afternoon dismissal, a student sprayed pepper spray while the bus was on its way to its next pickup stop at Easton Elementary.
While police were assessing the students, they were approached by a 12-year-old girl who admitted to having the pepper spray and accidentally spraying it. She told officers that, while reaching inside her purse, she accidently hit the trigger to a small, keychain-type pepper spray canister.
In addition to the bus driver, police say approximately 20 middle school-aged students were on the bus when the canister was discharged. Talbot County EMS arrived to assist triaging students, and in total, nine students were transported to the hospital for treatment. No elementary school students were exposed.
Easton Police said the 12-year old student is not being referred for charges, and the matter is being left for the Talbot County School Board to address.
