An Iowa college baseball team is grieving the unimaginable this week after a 19-year-old freshman was killed when the team’s bus crashed on the way to a weekend series in Arkansas.
Iowa Lakes Community College confirmed that Carter Johnson died in Wednesday morning’s accident. The freshman, who was from South Dakota, had been traveling with his teammates to play North Arkansas College when tragedy struck.
“Carter was a great teammate, a friend, and a valued member of our athletic community,” athletic director Troy Larson said in a statement. “We’re heartbroken for this tragedy. Our thoughts and prayers are with Carter’s family. We cannot imagine the depth of their loss.”
The crash happened just after 11 a.m. on Highway 4 near Twin Lakes, according to the Iowa State Patrol. Authorities say the 74-year-old bus driver veered off the roadway and lost control while trying to correct the vehicle’s position, causing the bus to roll into a ditch.
There were 33 people on board. All of the other passengers were injured, though the severity of those injuries has not been fully detailed.
According to local reports, two passengers were ejected during the rollover and became trapped beneath the bus. A van carrying other student-athletes was traveling behind the team and stopped immediately. Classmates reportedly attempted CPR on Johnson at the scene, but he could not be saved.
Images from the crash show the team bus overturned on its side in a ditch, the front end visibly damaged before it was eventually towed away.
The team had been headed to Harrison, Arkansas, for a scheduled series against North Arkansas College. In a statement, Northark President Dr. Rick Massengale shared condolences, saying, “Our hearts are heavy as we grieve alongside the Iowa Lakes College community. The loss of a life is a tragedy that reaches far beyond one campus.”