Joplin High School student dead after accident at Irving Elementary

The 18-year-old student who died this morning during an accident in the gymnasium at Irving Elementary School was killed by a basketball goal, according to Jasper County Coroner Rob Chappel.

"It appears to be some kind of a crush incident with a basketball goal," Chappel said.

He said the body of the student is being taken to Kansas City for an autopsy that is scheduled for Friday. He confirmed the time of death was 9:09 a.m., but deferred to police and school authorities about releasing the name, saying family members are being contacted.

A statement from the Joplin School District released this morning said that the student was volunteering when the accident occurred; no details about the accident were immediately given. Emergency medical personnel responded and took the student to the hospital, where he or she died, the district said.

"The student's family is in our thoughts and hearts during this very difficult time," the district said. "Joplin Schools is currently cooperating in an investigation of the accident."

Capt. Rusty Rives said identification of the student is being withheld pending notification of his or her family, he said.

"As a matter of protocol, we are conducting an investigation into what happened," he said. "There's no sign of anything criminal. We'll investigate from that and go from there."

Brandon Eggleston, principal of Joplin High School, confirmed that the student was enrolled there.

"We've got additional counselors (at the high school) now to help out, and we're there for our kids," he said. "We're grieving, and we're supporting our students through that process."

This story will be updated at joplinglobe.com as more information becomes available.