Ben Carson: Accident Kills Staff Volunteer, Campaign Cancelled For The Day

A volunteer from Ben Carson's campaign team was killed on a car crash in Atlantic, Iowa on Tuesday. Three other members of Carson's team, two volunteers and a campaign employee, were also injured and were brought to Cass County Memorial Hospital located in Atlantic.

Twenty-five-year-old Braden Joplin was rushed to the University of Nebraska Medical Center, but died at 4:30 p.m., according to Fox News. The campaign team released a statement saying that the team's van "hit a patch of ice and flipped on its side where it was struck by another vehicle," according to Ben Carson's website. The statement also announced that the schedule for Jan. 19 was to be cancelled.

"Dr. Carson has cancelled all remaining campaign events today and will be traveling to Omaha this afternoon to be with the family during this difficult time," the statement added.

Carson expressed his gratitude towards campaign volunteers and his grief regarding the incident. "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," Carson said, according to his statement.

"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," he added. "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."

Republican presidential-hopeful Carson went to Omaha to pay his respects and met with the victim's family, according to Reuters.

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Ben carson, Atlantic, Iowa, Nebraska, Omaha