Special needs student left alone in locked room at Carolina Forest Elementary, suit says

May 22--An autistic student was "severely traumatized" after being left alone in a locked room at Carolina Forest Elementary School, a lawsuit alleges.

The student's family filed a lawsuit this week against Horry County Schools, Carolina Forest Elementary and Carolina Forest Elementary After School Care.

The student has autism and on May 24, 2018, two adults "squeezed" him hard, the suit alleges. It was difficult for the student to breathe, and it scared him to the point where he tried to run.

The student was grabbed and dragged into an office, where he was locked in the room and left by himself, the lawsuit alleges. The filing does not specify how long the student was left alone.

The student was "several traumatized" both physically and mentally by the actions, his family says. The youngster now has Post-traumatic Stress Disorder and needs medical treatment, the suit states.

Horry County Schools and Carolina Forest Elementary were negligent for inflicting emotional distress, the suit states. They also had a duty to care for the child's well-being.

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The family is asking for an unspecified amount of money.

Horry County Schools spokeswoman Lisa Bourcier said it's the school district's policy to not comment on pending litigation.

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