(Image Source: USA Today)

BY ALLYSON BROWN

ANCHOR NATHAN BYRNE

The story of 15 New York teenagers suddenly struck with inexplicable, Tourettes-like outbursts made headlines about a week ago. Now, Erin Brockovich is involved -- yes -- THAT Erin Brockovich.

Her name became famous when Julia Roberts won an Oscar for the movie ‘Erin Brockovich’ in 2000. And she’s still crusading for public safety. Parents of the New York teens turned to Brockovich for help. She tells USA Today that, in this case, she is looking at a 1970s train derailment that carried cyanide crystals and an industrial solvent to see if there’s a connection to the teens’ symptoms.

When I read reports like this that the New York Department of Health and state agencies were well-aware of the spill and you don't do water testing or vapor extraction tests, you don't have an all-clear

Mysteriously, the majority of the students affected in New York go to the same school. One posted a video to YouTube talking about her plight.

Well time goes on, and about a month after, I pass out again, at the homecoming dance, that’s awesome right.

The train derailment Brockovich is researching happened less than three miles from school where students are reporting problems. The high school and New York Department of Health have both issued statements. First -- the school ...

The medical and environmental investigations have not uncovered any evidence that would link the neurological symptoms to anything in the environment or of an infectious nature … water was also ruled out because the school is serviced by public water.

And the New York Department of Health ...

... the school is served by a public water system. ... An environmental exposure would affect many people.

And, one of the students agrees it might not be the water -- telling ABC News ...

I didn't eat the food, I didn't drink the water. … I brought my own Snapples," she said. "I don't even borrow pencils.

Students affected are eligible for free testing by the National Institute of Health