LAKE MACBRIDE, IA — One adult is dead and a child remains missing after an incident Tuesday at Lake Macbride during a Borlaug Elementary fifth-grade School of the Wild field trip, according to the Iowa City Community School District and the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies were called at 12:10 p.m. to a report of people in the water at Lake Macbride State Park near the Coralville Reservoir spillway. Rescuers pulled an adult from the reservoir at 12:43 p.m., and that person was pronounced dead at the scene.
The sheriff’s office said search efforts continued through the evening for the missing child, then were suspended overnight. Crews were set to resume the search Wednesday morning.
Deputies responded near the Coralville Reservoir spillway after reports of people in the water
The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office said the emergency call came in just after noon. The scene was at Lake Macbride State Park, a popular recreation area that sits near the Coralville Reservoir spillway.
Authorities have not said exactly how the incident unfolded, but the initial report involved people in the water. The adult was recovered within about 33 minutes of the call, showing how quickly the response began once deputies and rescue crews reached the area.
Officials have not released the identities of the deceased adult or the missing child. The sheriff’s office said all other witnesses and people present at the scene have been accounted for.
Iowa City Community School District says the emergency involved a fifth-grade School of the Wild trip
The Iowa City Community School District said the emergency response was tied to what it called a tragic accident during a Borlaug Elementary fifth-grade School of the Wild field trip at the Macbride Nature Recreation Area.
In a statement, the district said it was heartbroken by the incident and extended condolences to the families, friends and loved ones affected. The district said it is working with the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, which is leading the investigation.
School of the Wild is a district program that takes students into outdoor settings for educational experiences. Officials did not describe the specific activity underway when the incident happened.
Search teams from across the region joined the response at Lake Macbride
Multiple agencies helped at the scene, reflecting the scale of the emergency response. Those assisting included the Johnson County Metro Dive Team, Johnson County Emergency Management, several area fire departments, Johnson County Ambulance Service, University of Iowa Police, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Iowa State Patrol, UI Air Care and the Johnson County Medical Examiner.
The involvement of dive teams and air medical support underscores the difficulty of the search area and the urgency of the situation. Officials did not say whether boats, helicopters or other specialized equipment were used, but they did confirm that a broad interagency response was assembled.
The sheriff’s office said the incident remains under investigation. No further details about what led to the emergency have been made public.
Counselors will support Borlaug Elementary students as field trips are canceled
The district said counselors and additional support staff will be available at Borlaug Elementary in the coming days to help students and employees cope with the tragedy. That response is aimed at a school community that learned the news during a field trip connected to one of its fifth-grade classes.
Officials also said School of the Wild field trips have been canceled for the foreseeable future. The district did not say when, or if, the outdoor program will resume.
Lake Macbride and the Macbride Nature Recreation Area are commonly used for recreation and education, but district leaders said their immediate focus is on support for families and staff while investigators continue their work.
Authorities have not identified the victims as the search continues Wednesday
As of Tuesday night, authorities had not publicly named the adult who died or the child who remained missing. The sheriff’s office said it had accounted for everyone else who was at the scene.
The overnight pause in recovery efforts means the search would pick back up Wednesday morning, giving investigators and rescue crews another chance to find the missing child. Officials have not said what they believe caused the incident, and they have not shared a timeline for when more information may be released.
For now, the case remains active and unresolved, with school officials, deputies and emergency responders all continuing to work through the aftermath of a deadly day at Lake Macbride.
