Two students hospitalized with burns

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - Two students and their teacher were burned in an accident Wednesday morning at Wainwright Middle School in Lafayette.

Sheffield Township Volunteer Fire Medical Officer Brian Waller said the students were a 14-year-old boy and a 15-year-old boy.

Tippecanoe School Corporation (TSC) Superintendent Scott Hanback said the students were burned when an alcohol chemical flared up in an 8th grade science experiment. 

The 14-year-old boy was airlifted to Riley Children's Hospital in Indianapolis.

The 15-year-old was transported to a Lafayette hospital by ambulance.

Sheffield Township emergency responders said that the teacher was treated at the scene for minor burns to the hands.

TSC spokesperson Christy Fraley said 16 other students were in the classroom at the time of the incident. She also said two other classes had performed the same science experiment earlier in the day.

Fraley said that everyone followed the proper procedures. She said the school takes a number of measures to ensure the safety of students.

"We have safety flip charts with our teachers. We have incidents where we discuss the situations with all of our staff: 'Okay if we had this situation, what would we do?' There's constant communication to discuss the safety. We have fire drills, we have tornado drills, we have lockdown procedures, that all of our students practice," said Fraley.

The school was placed on lockdown following the incident to help facilitate the ease of movement of emergency personnel.

A letter was sent home to parents with Wainwright students, explaining that the incident had taken place and that two students were receiving medical care. The school will have counselors on hand on Thursday to assist students who have questions.

The school is not releasing the names of the students involved or the name of the teacher of the class.

The superintendent and other school officials offered their sympathy to the injured 8th-graders.

"Our hearts go out to the students," said Hanback.

There is no word yet on the condition of the injured students. Fraley said that investigation into the incident is still ongoing.

Parents at the scene of the accident identified one of the students as 14-year-old Cody Garrett. Riley Children's Hospital would not release information on Cody Garrett's condition.

This website, sponsored by Clarian Health, appears to provide more information on the condition of Cody Garrett: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/codygarrett/