Hollister senior grad trip canceled due to widespread illness

UPDATED: 7:31 p.m.

San Benito High School’s senior grad trip to Disneyland was cancelled Friday after 70 to 80 students experienced nausea and vomiting while on the bus, according to Superintendent John Perales.

The students had eaten a tri-tip lunch Thursday at San Benito High School, but on Friday afternoon the county health department was still looking into whether that was cause.

Seven buses carrying 365 students were turned around at Buttonwillow and returned to Hollister.

Senior Sherlyn Roman couldn’t believe the news.

“I was just waiting for someone to be like ‘oh just kidding this a joke,” said Roman.

The school described the sickness as a “widespread stomach and intestinal illness.”

“Stomach issues, cramping, diarrhea and it just got worse,” said Perales.

The trip is a long standing tradition. Parent Robert Marquez went on it 28 years ago before he graduated. Today, his sons were on the bus.

“I was telling my boys it going to be a trip of a lifetime,” said Marquez.

Marquez told KION that he was disappointed that the trip got cancelled but he isn’t blaming anyone until all facts are gathered.

“You can’t just put all the blame on the school,” said Marquez. “Just like anything else you got to do an investigation,” added Marquez.

If it turns out that the sickness was from the senior lunch, Perales thinks it could have been a handling problem and not necessarily a problem with the food itself.

According to the school, they are going to try to work on rescheduling the trip, but they won’t know if that is possible until they talk with Disneyland.

UPDATE 5/20/16 12:22 pm: The San Benito County Health Department says it was notified this morning that 70-80 students were experiencing nausea and vomiting. The students had eaten a tri-tip lunch Thursday at San Benito High School. A spokesperson says seven buses carrying 365 students were turned around at Buttonwillow, and are expected to return to Hollister sometime around 2 pm.

ORIGINAL STORY: San Benito High School’s senior grad trip to Disneyland has been canceled after many students suffered a “widespread stomach and intestinal illness,” according to Superintendent John Perales.

Perales notified parents on the school website that the San Benito Public Health Department recommended that buses carrying students turn around and return to Hollister.

School administrators said the students are heading home and are still trying to figure out what time they will get into town.

It’s still unclear what might have caused the “stomach and intestinal illness.”

But the superintendent said all students will be refunded the cost of the trip.