Four people sent to hospital, Sunnyside school evacuated for strong odor

TUCSON, AZ (Tucson News Now) - A Sunnyside Unified School District elementary school was evacuated and four people were transported to the hospital due to a strong odor, authorities said.

Jay Karlik, spokesman for Rural Metro Fire, said the odor was reported near Los Ninos Elementary, which is at 5445 S. Alvernon Way.

Karlik said Rural Metro and Southwest Gas crews used special equipment to check for gas in the school and found nothing.

Mary Veres, spokeswoman with the Sunnyside School District, said the school followed protocol, evacuating students and staff and keeping the children safe.

Students were evacuated around 12:45 p.m. and returned to class about an hour later, according to Veres.

Veres said three sixth-graders and one staff member were taken to the hospital.

Karlik said they did not suffer life-threatening injuries.

He said they were transported to hospitals as a precaution.