Carter Johnson, a 19-year-old member of the Iowa Lakes Community College baseball team, was identified Thursday as the victim of a bus crash that injured 32 other people the day before, police said.
According to the school's website, Johnson was a freshman outfielder who had appeared in one game this season for Iowa Lakes after a high school career at Rapid City Stevens in South Dakota.
“Carter was a great teammate, a friend and a valued member of our athletic community,” athletic director Troy Larson said at a news conference Thursday. “During his time here, he truly impacted our campus, both in our hallways and classrooms, as well as on the playing field. We are heartbroken by this tragedy.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with Carter's family. I can't imagine the depth of their loss. And we keep them close to our hearts.”
The bus carrying the school's baseball team crashed and overturned in a ditch on Iowa Highway 4 near Twin Lakes, about 110 miles northwest of Des Moines, Wednesday morning.
Iowa State Patrol Lt. Aaron Schmidt said Johnson was pronounced dead at the scene. He added that when officials arrived at the scene of the accident, student-athletes who were in a van behind the bus were performing CPR on Johnson.
Three others were flown to trauma hospitals in Des Moines, officials said Wednesday, and others were taken by ambulance to four area hospitals. There were no updates Thursday on their conditions.
The Lakers (1-3) were scheduled to play at North Arkansas College starting Thursday, but all four games were canceled.
