DATE: Saturday, October 25, 1997            TAG: 9710250376

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B7   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY NANCY YOUNG, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE                        LENGTH:   25 lines

STUDENTS EVACUATED WHEN CHEMICAL LEAKS INTO CAMELOT SCHOOL

Students at Camelot Elementary School were evacuated Friday when a chemical that gives natural gas its smell leaked into the school's ventilation system.

The leak came from an area in the community outside the school. Deputy Superintendent William E. Russell said the students were evacuated to the gym for just over an hour. There were no injuries, although a few students and a teacher complained of feeling ill from the odor.

Russell said the fire department and ambulances were called and the school district was ready to transport the students to another school, but that was unnecessary. Letters were sent home Friday afternoon to parents explaining the situation.

Also on Friday morning, a bus en route to E.W. Chittum Elementary School was involved in a minor accident with a car, said Russell. He said the driver of the car was not hurt.

Russell said the bus was able to continue to the school. A couple of students were taken home by their parents during the school day after complaining of pain.

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