Caustic Cargo Splatters Pupils

Twenty-five children escaped serious injury Thursday when a caustic liquid spilled through the windows of a school bus as a tractor-trailer truck swerved to avoid it in Newhall, authorities said.

The liquid spilled from a large, rectangular container that slipped off the truck’s flatbed trailer, officials said.

“It was a close call,” said Capt. Norman Branch of the Los Angeles County Fire Department. “It could have been wipeout city.”

The students from Newhall Elementary School were taken by ambulances and helicopters to five hospitals, where at least 13 were treated for minor eye or skin irritation. Firefighters washed many of the children with water at the scene.

Authorities had not determined the nature of the caustic liquid, which was being tested by the Fire Department’s hazardous-materials team. But they said it may have been a solution of rainwater and residue from sodium hydroxide, a chemical used for industrial aluminum etching.

Authorities said the 3 p.m. accident occurred when the truck, traveling south on Sierra Highway, swerved north onto Placerita Canyon Road to avoid hitting the northbound bus.

California Highway Patrol officials closed the intersection until 6 a.m. today to give cleaning crews time to remove the liquid from the roadway.

The CHP said the truck was owned by San Bon Construction of San Dimas.

Other details of the accident, including the identities of the drivers of the two vehicles, were unavailable Thursday.

Seven students, transported to Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital in Valencia, were examined and released to their parents, a hospital official said.

Some of the children were stripped of their clothes and showered, the officials said. They left the hospital wrapped in blankets.

Five children were examined and released at Northridge Hospital Medical Center; six were treated for minor eye irritation and released at Holy Cross Hospital in Mission Hills; three were treated and released at Pacifica Hospital of the Valley in Sun Valley and four were treated and released at Granada Hills Community Hospital, officials said.