Mysterious spray on Atlanta train sends passengers to hospital

Mysterious spray on Atlanta train sends passengers to hospital

ATLANTA (February 12, 1999 12:44 a.m. EST http://www.nandotimes.com) - Twenty-one people were hospitalized after an unidentified man sprayed an unknown substance on a commuter train during the Thursday evening rush hour.

The fumes caused chest pains, respiratory problems and eye irritation among the victims, who were given oxygen and then washed down with a water and bleach solution before they were transported to a hospital.

All but one of the victims, who included the train driver and five paramedics, were released late Thursday. A 14-year-old boy remained in guarded condition in intensive care with breathing problems.

"He's having difficulty breathing. We're trying to save a life and make sure he doesn't have respiratory failure," Dr. Philip Shaye told WAGA-TV.

The 20 who were released were given green hospital scrubs to wear because their clothes were confiscated by the FBI to identify the sprayed substance, said Barbara Vogel, an administrator at Grady Memorial Hospital.

Several hours after the incident, the substance that was sprayed was still unidentified.

"It could be as simple as pepper spray, or any type of fume that could be airborne, that could cause individuals to have these type of symptoms," fire department spokeswoman Connie Smith said.

Authorities did not know whether the individual who sprayed the substance had boarded the car involved or had sprayed it and then walked away.