Authorities: Middle school student drowns on field trip to Rend Lake College

MOUNT VERNON, Ill. (AP) -- Authorities are investigating the death of an Illinois middle school student who drowned during a field trip to a college's aquatics center.

Casey Middle School eighth-grader Javon Howard died Friday at Rend Lake College in Ina, Ill.

The college says the 14-year-old boy was playing with other students in the pool when he was elbowed in the nose. After being assessed by a lifeguard, Javon re-entered the pool but eventually slipped under the water's surface.

The college says he was under water for less than a minute before being pulled from the pool.

The school district's superintendent says the event was well-supervised, with four teachers and as many teacher's aides in addition to lifeguards on duty.