LANCASTER COUNTY, S.C. — Students and staff were taken off of a bus in Lancaster County after authorities say they were exposed to an unknown chemical substance.
According to a release, first responders were called to Indian Land High School around 5:12 p.m. on Wednesday for students exposed to a chemical substance.
A 14-year-old female student lost consciousness at the scene while other students experienced symptoms of exposure. An EMS worker also experienced symptoms at the scene.
None of the students were transported by EMS for treatment. However, the bus driver was taken by a family member to a medical facility for evaluation.
Authorities say everyone who was exposed to the substance is in stable condition. Parents were asked to monitor their children and seek medical attention if any additional symptoms arise.
Investigators are inspecting the bus and articles on the bus to determine what the substance is. After the investigation is complete, the bus will be decontaminated.
“I want to assure parents that we are treating this matter seriously and will conduct a thorough investigation to determine what caused this exposure,” said Barry Faile, Lancaster County Sheriff. “We hope it was not the result of criminal activity, but we will go wherever the investigation leads us.”
"The only thing I can describe in any detail is the fact that the one student appeared to faint or lose consiousness at some point," Bryan Vaughn with the Lancaster County School District said. "We don't know what the substance is. It's under investigation by law enforcement."