Pepper spray incident at a Queens school leaves 40 people injured

NEW YORK (1010 wins/WCBS 880) – According to the NYPD, forty people were injured in a pepper spray accident at a school in Queens on Thursday.

Officers responded around 10:40 a.m. to PS/MS 219, a middle school at 144-39 Gravett Road in Pomonok.

Nine adults and 31 students were injured from pepper spray inhalation and were evaluated at the scene. Ten people were taken to an area hospital while eight people refused medical attention, officials said.

No further information about her condition was available.

The police believe that the incident was an accident and that there was no criminal background.

The Department of Education did not immediately respond to 1010 WINS/WCBS 880’s request for comment.

While authorities investigated the incident, traffic in the Pomonok area was disrupted.