16 Hospitalized After Pepper Spray Incident At South Side School

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Sixteen people were taken to hospitals Thursday morning, after someone released pepper spray at a charter school in the Oakland neighborhood.

Firefighters responded to University of Chicago Charter School Donoghue, 707 E. 37th St., around 8:45 a.m., after multiple children were accidentally sprayed with pepper spray.

Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford said a student's small canister of pepper spray discharged inside a desk. Several students began coughing and wheezing, and another student pulled the fire alarm.

A total of 16 people were taken to hospitals in good condition -- eight were taken to Comer Children's Hospital, and eight were taken to Mercy Hospital and Medical Center. It was not immediately clear if all of those taken to hospitals were students.

A representative for the school declined to comment.