WHITELAND, Ind. – Johnson County Prosecutor Lance Hamner said Monday that school employees violated no criminal laws after a Whiteland Community High School student drowned during gym class back in May.
Alaina Dildine’s May 16 death was determined by the Johnson County Coroner’s Office to be caused by drowning and a seizure disorder, with the manner of death being ruled as an accident. Dildine went unnoticed for nearly an hour after going under the bulkhead that separates the swimming lanes and the diving well.
“It is not the function of this office, however, to determine whether any negligence on behalf of school officials contributed to this tragedy. Such a determination would need to be made in the civil justice system,” Hamner said in a statement. “This accidental death is a tragedy and this office expresses its condolences to the family and loved ones of the student.”
Johnson County Sheriff Duane Burgess said Clark Pleasant Community School Corporation (CPCSC) administrators and CPCSC police were fully cooperative during the investigation. After the inquiry’s conclusion, it was forwarded to the prosecutor’s office who found no criminal laws were violated.
The investigation by the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office determined the following timeline:
- Swim class begins at 9:37 a.m. and Dildine enters the pool.
- The instructional Assistant/Life Guard is on duty and the PhysEd teacher is present.
- At 10:18 a.m., Dildine goes under the bulkhead separating swimming lanes and diving well.
- Other students continue to swim and meet their class obligations.
- The class completes their time in the pool and is released at approximately 10:30 a.m.
- At 11:01 a.m. the next class enters the pool area.
- A male student notices Dildine at 11:10 a.m.
- The Instructional Assistant/Life Guard immediately pulls Dildine out and begins CPR.
- PhysEd teacher calls 911 and reports the incident to school officials.
- CPR ended at 11:47 a.m. The student is pronounced deceased.
