An adult has died and a fifth-grade student remains missing after what the Iowa City Community School District is calling a “tragic accident” during a school field trip to the Macbride Nature Recreation Area on Tuesday, September 22.
What Happened at Lake Macbride
Fifth-grade students from Borlaug Elementary School were taking part in a School of the Wild field trip at the recreation area when the incident occurred. The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office said emergency crews were called to the scene around 12:10 p.m. after receiving reports of people in the water near the Coralville Reservoir spillway at Lake Macbride State Park.
First responders arrived and recovered an adult from the water at approximately 12:43 p.m. That person was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities immediately shifted focus to searching for a child who remained missing.
Search crews continued working through the afternoon and into the evening before the operation was suspended overnight due to conditions, with search efforts resuming the following day.
What We Know — and Don’t Know — About Those Involved
As of this writing, officials have not publicly released the names of either the adult who died or the missing child, and the school district has declined to share additional details about how the incident unfolded.
Multiple reports circulating online have identified the deceased adult as Hannah Jorgensen, a Borlaug Elementary fifth-grade teacher, with some accounts suggesting she entered the water attempting to help the student. It’s important to note that this identification has not been officially confirmed by the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office or the school district, and readers should treat it as unverified until authorities release official confirmation.
The School District’s Response
The Iowa City Community School District confirmed the field trip was tied to its School of the Wild program, an initiative designed to expand outdoor learning experiences for elementary and middle school students across Iowa. In a statement, Executive Director of Community Relations Kristen Pederson said:
“Our thoughts are with the family, friends, and loved ones of those affected by this tragedy. We are working closely with the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, which is leading the investigation, and we are grateful to the first responders and others who provided care and assistance at the scene.”
The statement continued: “Counselors and additional support personnel will be available at Borlaug Elementary to support students and staff in the days ahead. We recognize the impact an event like this can have across our entire school community and will continue to provide support as needed.”
The district has canceled School of the Wild field trips for the foreseeable future while the investigation continues.
What Happens Next
The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office is leading the investigation into how the incident occurred and continues to lead search efforts for the missing child. The school district says it will continue offering counseling and support resources to students, staff, and families at Borlaug Elementary in the days ahead.
