–A 19-year-old from South Dakota has been identified as the person killed when a bus carrying the Iowa Lakes Community College Baseball team crashed in rural Calhoun County Wednesday morning. Carter Johnson, a Freshman from Rapid City, South Dakota died of injuries sustained in the single-vehicle rollover crash that occurred just after 11 AM Wednesday along Iowa Highway 4, about a mile west of Twin Lakes. During a news conference Thursday afternoon, Iowa Lakes President Scott Stokes thanked everyone who has shown support for the school and its students since the tragedy occurred.
The crash occurred about 1.5 miles north of the junction between Iowa Highway 4 and US Highway 20. Lt. Aaron Smidt with the Iowa State Patrol says their investigation into the incident continues.
A second Iowa Lakes vehicle was following the bus at the time but was not involved in the crash. Officials say occupants of that vehicle attempted to perform CPR on Johnson prior to the arrival of EMS personnel, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. The team was on their way to Arkansas for games against North Arkansas College at the time of the crash. Troy Larson serves as Vice President of Student Services and Athletic Director for Iowa Lakes, and he says no decisions have been made at this time with regards to the remainder of the baseball season.
Twelve others had to be transported to hospitals in Fort Dodge and Des Moines following the crash, but officials say each is currently in stable condition.
