Grade 12 student dies after Ottawa high school explosion
Posted May 27, 2011 7:15 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
An 18-year-old who suffered life-threatening injuries after a flash explosion rang through an Ottawa high school, has died.
The grade 12 student was found by paramedics without vital signs but was resuscitated on the way to hospital.
Hospital officials confirmed to 660News, shortly before 9 p.m., that the teen had died of his injuries.
Students near the classroom describe a the bast as a loud bang that made their desks shake.
Authorities said a 55 gallon drum that contained peppermint oil residue, which created a vapour, exploded in an auto-shop class at Mother Teresa Catholic High School at 10:40 a.m.
Police believe the students were building a barbecue when a flash explosion went off.
Five other people, including a 33-year-old teacher, were taken to hospital with injuries. They are monitoring for possible concussive injuries but are said to be in stable condition.
Police said about a dozen people were in the classroom at the time of the blast.
The high school is in the Ottawa suburb of Barrhaven.
The school has 1,480 students and 130 staff.
