Twenty-five year old Braden Joplin, right, died Tuesday in a car crash in Iowa while volunteering for presidential candidate Ben Carson. The retired neurosurgeon canceled the remained of his events Tuesday and flew to Nebraska, where the other passengers in the car were taken via medevac helicopter. | Photo courtesy Ben Carson campaign Volunteer for Ben Carson dies from crash injuries

A volunteer on Ben Carson's campaign succumbed to injuries sustained in a car accident on an icy Iowa road earlier Tuesday.

The volunteer, 25-year-old Braden Joplin, died late Tuesday afternoon at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha.


"Rest in peace, Braden Joplin," Carson tweeted. "Our thoughts and prayers are with his family."

Three others in the Carson van were injured in the Interstate 80 crash near Atlantic, Iowa. According to Carson's campaign, they were all treated at a nearby Iowa hospital and released.

The GOP presidential candidate subsequently issued a statement: "One of the precious few joys of campaigning is the privilege of meeting bright young men and women who are so enthusiastic about their country that they will freely give of their time and energy to work on its behalf. America lost one of those bright young men today.

"I had the privilege of knowing Braden Joplin personally, and am filled with a deep and profound sadness at his passing. While we mourn this profound loss, I am thankful that our other campaign colleagues, Drew McCall, Aaron Ohnemus and Ryan Patrick Shellooe, have all been treated and released from the hospital."

According to the Daily Toreador of Texas Tech University, Joplin was a student at Texas Tech. The newspaper said Joplin had been a volunteer for Carson in Iowa since earlier this month. He had attended Robert E. Lee High School in Midland, Texas.

"I find solace in the knowledge of God’s redeeming grace," Carson said, "and I pray that Braden's family finds comfort in the mercy of the Lord. Across America today, I ask everyone to take a moment to reflect on the preciousness of life and remember and honor the memory of Braden Joplin."

Earlier reports indicated three student volunteers and a campaign staffer for Carson had been hospitalized — with one volunteer in grave condition flown to a trauma center in Nebraska. The van they were riding in struck a patch of ice, flipped on its side and was struck by another vehicle.

Atlantic is the county seat of Cass County in southwestern Iowa. It is 53 miles from Omaha.

Carson, who was in South Carolina at the time of the crash, canceled his remaining campaign events (as well as events Wednesday) and flew to Nebraska. "Dr. Carson is asking people to join him in prayer for all the individuals and families involved," a campaign spokesman said at the time.

According to the Daily Toreador, Carson's campaign chartered a private jet for Joplin's family to fly from Texas to Omaha.

"The loss of life, especially one of our own, is especially tragic," said Chris Cook, managing director of Communications & Marketing at Texas Tech, in an official statement. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Braden during this difficult time."

Most of Carson's rivals — certainly familiar with the energy and idealism that volunteers bring to the campaign trail — weighed in to offer sympathy to the accident victims.

Donald Trump's campaign manager Corey Lewandowski and the Hillary Clinton campaign's Iowa leader also offered kind words.

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

"Sad #iacaucus news today," wrote Matt Paul, Clinton's state director. "On behalf of IA HRC Team, Our thoughts and prayers go out @RealBenCarson's staff and their families."

After the news of Joplin's death, Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders and GOP contender Jeb Bush issued statements of sympathy.

“Young volunteers like Braden Joplin are the heart and soul of the democratic process. Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family," Sanders said.

"Praying for the family of the young Ben Carson volunteer Braden Joplin, who was killed in a tragic car crash in IA," Bush said. "A life taken too soon."

