Carson Campaign Volunteer Dies

Ben Carson announces his run for president in Detroit on May 4.
Paul Sancya/AP
Michelle Fields

Braden Joplin, a campaign volunteer for presidential candidate Ben Carson, has died after a car crash in Iowa Tuesday, according to NBC News.

The 25-year old passed away from injuries sustained from the accident. Joplin was in a van with two other campaign volunteers and an employee of the Carson campaign. The van hit a patch of ice, flipped, and was struck by another vehicle.

Carson cancelled all of his campaign events today and released a statement earlier Tuesday that said Carson had, “cancelled all remaining campaign events today and will be traveling to Omaha this afternoon to be with the family during this difficult time.”

“Earlier today in Iowa, a van transporting three campaign volunteers and a Carson campaign employee hit a patch of ice and flipped on its side where it was struck by another vehicle,” reads a press release from the Carson campaign. 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 press release adds.

Carson is expected to meet with Joplin’s family this evening to offer his condolences.

Other Republican presidential candidates took to twitter throughout the day to share their condolences and send prayers to Joplin’s loved ones.

Trump, who held a rally Tuesday, began the event by asking his supporters to pray for Carson’s campaign staffers and volunteers involved in the accident. “Hopefully they get better, say a prayer,” Trump said. Other candidates also sent messages of support:

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