Dr. Ben Carson Asks for Prayer in Light of Tragic Loss

Bob Eschliman : Jan 20, 2016
Charisma News

"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..." -Dr. Ben Carson

Braden Joplin, a volunteer with Ben Carson's presidential campaign, died as a result of injuries sustained in a crash in Iowa on Tuesday. Carson said he hoped Joplin's death could serve as an opportunity to reflect on how we are treating others. (Submitted photo/via Charisma News)

Dr. Ben Carson suspended all campaign activities Tuesday to be at the Omaha hospital where a volunteer was in critical condition following a crash.

That volunteer, 25-year-old Braden Joplin of Midland, Texas, passed away as a result of his injuries in the crash, according to University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. The exact time of the crash has not yet been released by the Iowa State Patrol, but the Carson campaign said it happened Tuesday morning in an official statement that afternoon:

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. Three of the passengers, including the campaign staffer driving, are currently being checked out at Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic, Iowa. One volunteer is being transported to the trauma center at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska.

Dr. Carson has spoken with the family of the volunteer being transported to Omaha, as well as the attending physician. 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.

Dr. Carson is asking people to join him in prayer for all the individuals and families involved.

Carson was campaigning in South Carolina when he was told of the crash. He immediately suspended all campaign activity and rushed to Omaha. Many of his opponents joined in the call to prayer, and social media was abuzz much of Tuesday afternoon and evening with calls for prayer for everyone involved, their families, and those who were affected by the tragedy.

The crash occurred at Exit 54 on Interstate Highway 80, about six miles northwest of Atlantic in Cass County in western Iowa. Much of the southern two-thirds of Iowa was hit by a snow storm that dropped a couple of inches of snow, but included heavy winds that created dangerous driving conditions in...

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