Two Lynn Camp students hurt in dry ice explosion; coach suspended

Knox County Schools Superintendent Walter T. Huelett reported two Lynn Camp High School students injured in an explosion involving dry ice Tuesday have been released from the hospital.

"We are still trying to find out," Huelett said when asked how the students got the dry ice and what they were doing with it that caused it to explode.

The incident occurred near the school’s softball field after school hours Tuesday afternoon.

As a result of the explosion, one student suffered unspecified minor injuries while the other severe lacerations to his face.

Huelett would not disclose the names of the students, but did confirm that the incident is connected to the suspension of David Mitchell, who coaches varsity football and track at Lynn Camp.

Roddy Harrison, a science teacher with 27 years of experience, said that dry ice is actually frozen carbon dioxide, the gas that is formed by humans when they exhale.

The gas freezes solid at -109.3 Fahrenheit.

"If you handle it, you need to have gloves on," Harrison said, noting while it will burn, it’s not a serious burn.

Harrison noted dry ice becomes extremely dangerous if it’s put someplace that allows the pressure to build up as it returns to its natural state as a gas, such as in a sealed bottle or can.

Even a piece of dry ice the size of a single ice cube can turn a pop bottle into a bomb, Harrison explained.

"It expands so quickly because it naturally wants to be a gas again," Harrison noted. "Think about what happens when you blow up a balloon."

Mitchell would not say earlier this week why he had been suspended.

“It’s under review.” Mitchell said.

Mitchell’s career with the Wildcats have spanned over 34 years, making him one of the longest active coaches in the state of Kentucky.

He has over 150 wins in his 34 years with the Wildcats including numerous district championships, a regional title and a state semifinal finish when he guided Lynn Camp to a 9-5 record, losing to Beechwood one game before the state championship game.

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