Carson campaign volunteer dies after car crash in Iowa

A volunteer for Ben Carson’s Republican presidential campaign died Tuesday after a van carrying four staff members flipped over on a patch of ice in Cass County, Iowa, and was rammed by another vehicle, hospital officials confirmed Tuesday night.

Carson immediately suspended his campaign for at least two days to travel from South Carolina to Omaha, Nebraska, where Braden Joplin, 25, was rushed for treatment at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, the campaign said.

Rest In Peace Braden Joplin. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family. pic.twitter.com/p87TCnD44p

— Dr. Ben Carson (@RealBenCarson) January 20, 2016

Joplin died at 4:30 p.m. (5:30 p.m. ET), the hospital said. The other passengers — Drew McCall, a field director for the campaign, and volunteers Aaron Ohnemus and Ryan Patrick Shellooe — weren’t seriously injured and were released from a local hospital, the campaign said.

Joplin, of Midland, Texas, was a student at Texas Tech University, NBC station KWES of Midland reported. The Carson campaign said it would cover travel expenses to Omaha for Joplin’s family in Texas.

“I had the privilege of knowing Braden Joplin personally, and am filled with a deep and profound sadness at his passing,” Carson said Tuesday night. “I pray that Braden’s family finds comfort in the mercy of the Lord.”

Carson was campaigning Tuesday in South Carolina when he got the news and canceled the rest of his schedule for the day, as well a scheduled event Wednesday in California. The campaign projected that he would return to campaigning Thursday in Iowa, where the critical Republican caucuses are scheduled Feb. 1.

Other Republican candidates, including Sens. Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio, and Donald Trump’s campaign manager sent their prayers and wishes Tuesday:

Thoughts & prayers with @RealBenCarson's volunteers & staff- involved in a car accident this morning.

— Corey Lewandowski (@CLewandowski_) January 19, 2016