Mystery Illness Plagues Students At Pinewood Elementary In Baltimore County

TIMONIUM, Md. (WJZ) — Mystery illness. Several Baltimore County elementary schoolers were rushed from the classroom to the hospital. Emergency crews are now investigating what happened to them.

Kai Jackson has more on the panic for parents.

The students who got sick at the school have been recovering. Meantime, authorities have been trying to determine what made them sick in the first place.

There were tense moments at Pinewood Elementary in Timonium at about 3:15 p.m. Thursday. Sky Eye Chopper 13 was over the scene on Rickswood Road.

The Baltimore County Fire Department says 14 students got sick while inside the cafeteria, many complaining that they were lightheaded.

"He just said something happened and he was frightened and he just said he had to get evacuated immediately and all the walkers and the kids who ride the bus and everyone just had to get out," said Barbara Coward, parent.

Coward says her son was lucky and never got sick. Yet he was among the students at Pinewood Elementary who were evacuated.

As parents rushed to pick up their children:

"They were in the cafeteria rehearsing for a musical and some of the kids started complaining about feeling ill. From that point, the music teacher summoned help," said Captain Bruce Schultz, Baltimore County Fire Department.

As medics tended to the students, the fire department was trying to figure out what made them sick.

"There was no odor, nothing environmentally concerning us," said Principal Franchesca Brown.

A hazmat team inspected the school, yet authorities tell WJZ they have not determined what made the students sick. And until then, the investigation is ongoing.

"Hopefully everything is okay in the school and all the kids are okay, obviously, I mean, that's the biggest concern," said Michael McCullough, parent.

Of the 14 students who got sick, at least two were taken to area hospitals. However, because of their ages, we have no information about their names or conditions. But no information has been reported to suggest they had any life-threatening injuries.

Pinewood Elementary's principal says unless they are told otherwise, the school day will take place as scheduled Friday.