High School Student Loses Vision In Chemistry Demonstration Gone Awry

Lawsuit: Student Lost Vision In Chemistry Demo Gone Awry

The mother of a 16-year-old southwest suburban high school student who lost his left eye during a chemistry demonstration has filed a lawsuit against the teacher she claims is responsible.

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, the lawsuit, filed Friday, alleges that students at Oak Lawn's Harold L. Richards High School were not given safety goggles before the teacher passed around a sealed plastic water bottle filled with dry ice and water combined together. When the bottle arrived in the hands of Dillon, son of Kimberly Mantia, the bottle reportedly exploded, injuring the boy's face and hands in addition to causing permanent loss of vision in the boy's left eye.

The lawsuit seeks more than $150,000 in damages alleging negligence, willful and wanton misconduct and vicarious liability.

In a statement released by the school Monday, NBC Chicago reports that the incident is currently under review and that the teacher in question has been put on administrative leave.

Photo by Probably Okay! via Flickr.

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