Dist. 63 students taken to hospital after pepper spray discharged on school bus

Eleven Des Plaines elementary school students were taken to a hospital Monday afternoon after pepper spray was discharged on their school bus in Maine Township.

The incident happened at 3:21 p.m. at West Church Street and Capitol Drive when a student was testing her can of pepper spray, Cook County sheriff's office spokeswoman Sophia Ansari said.

The student didn't know the effect the spray would have in an enclosed space, according to Ansari.

East Maine Elementary District 63 Superintendent Scott Clay said via email Monday evening that the affected students attend Apollo School in Des Plaines and were treated and released from Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge.

"All students are safe," he said.

The bus had 55 children on it, ranging from 8 to 12 years old.