More information released on a fatal college bus crash

News

February 12th, 2026 by Ric Hanson

(Calhoun County, IA) – The Iowa State Patrol has released more information on the crash Wednesday in northwest Iowa, of a bus carrying 33 people to Arkansas for a series of college baseball games. Authorities say 19-year-old South Dakota baseball player Carter Johnson died, after a bus carrying the Iowa Lakes Community College baseball team crashed near Twin Lake, in Calhoun County.

The Patrol says the bus was traveling southbound on Highway 4 near Marengo Avenue. The unidentified 74-year-old driver failed to negotiate the curve as the bus started to enter the gore area between the two roads. When he over-corrected, the bus left the road and rolled onto its side into a ditch. The Iowa State Patrol said the S-curve where the crash happened is known to be dangerous. Four people have died in crashes there in the last 10 years.

32 people on the bus were injured in the crash. Two people were ejected and were trapped under the bus as it came to rest.  Student-athletes in a school van traveling behind the bus gave CPR to Johnson after the crash, but he died at the scene. Everyone taken by ambulance to the hospital with injuries has been released, according to the Iowa State Patrol. The condition of athletes who were life-flighted to Des Moines was not immediately available.

Multiple surrounding area law enforcement and fire departments assisted at the scene. Iowa Lakes Community College canceled classes Thursday and Friday but campuses remain open with counselors available to talk to students.