i may not like the nig, but damn, thats a sad way to go.. on a failing political campaign bus not even getting paid.
Carson, who was in South Carolina, canceled Tuesday and Wednesday campaign stops in South Carolina and California, said Jason Osborne, senior communication strategist with the campaign. The retired brain surgeon planned to travel to Omaha Tuesday afternoon.
“Carson will be heading to Omaha as well to be with the family and help in any way he can," Osborne said.
Joplin's family arrived at the University of Nebraska Medical Center around 5 p.m., according to campaign staff who were waiting in the emergency room. Rhodes said the campaign immediately chartered a private jet from Lubbock, Texas, Tuesday for family members to visit Joplin.
Joplin, 25, is a student at Texas Tech University in Lubbock. He's been in Iowa since early January volunteering for the Carson campaign.
The car accident happened at about 9:30 a.m. on I-80, said Iowa State Patrol Sgt. Nathan Ludwig.
The driver of the Carson van had attempted to switch lanes when he or she lost control on the icy road, Ludwig said. The van crossed the median, driving west in the eastbound lane, when it was broadsided by a pickup, he said.
Five people were in the pickup, including some children, Ludwig said. At least some of them were transported with injuries, along with those in Carson's van, he said. He did not have any other details.
Campaign officials declined to name the Carson campaign staff driver and others in the van, aside from Joplin.
Ludwig said roads were very icy in and around Atlantic, and officers responded to several crashes in the area.
The Iowa Department of Transportation reported highways around Atlantic were completely covered in ice or snow.
Several of Carson's rival Republican presidential candidates offered their sympathies over social media. Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, Mike Huckabee and Rick Santorum each offered prayers over Twitter to those involved in the crash
