More than a week after the fatal bus crash that upended the Iowa Lakes Community College baseball program, one student‑athlete and the team’s bus driver remain hospitalized, while dozens of others continue recovering from injuries sustained in the rollover crash west of Twin Lakes.
Iowa Lakes released its latest update Friday, saying one player is still receiving inpatient medical care, and several teammates continue outpatient treatment, physical therapy, and counseling. The bus driver, 74‑year‑old Edward Greving of Estherville, also remains hospitalized. The college is not releasing additional medical details out of respect for the families.
The crash happened late Wednesday morning, Feb. 11, on Iowa Highway 4 near 220th Street. As Storm Lake Radio first reported that day, emergency crews from across Calhoun, Pocahontas, Webster, and Sac counties responded to a mass‑casualty incident after the bus rolled into a ditch. Multiple ambulances and four medical helicopters transported patients to hospitals across the region, including Des Moines.
According to the Iowa State Patrol, Greving failed to negotiate a curve while driving southbound. Investigators say the bus left the roadway, the driver overcorrected, and the vehicle overturned. No other vehicles were involved, though an Iowa Lakes van carrying six people was traveling with the team.
Thirty‑three people were on board the bus. All sustained injuries ranging from minor to critical.
Nineteen‑year‑old freshman outfielder Carter Johnson of Rapid City, South Dakota, was pronounced dead at the scene. During a news conference the following day, Iowa Lakes Athletic Director Troy Larson said Johnson’s teammates in the trailing van performed CPR until first responders arrived. The college canceled classes Feb. 12 and 13 as students and staff processed the tragedy.
The crash occurred on a stretch of Highway 4 known for its S‑curve. According to the Iowa State Patrol, four fatal crashes have occurred at that curve in recent years, and the investigation into this latest crash remains ongoing.
On Feb. 14, Iowa Lakes established the Carter “Tater” Johnson Memorial Scholarship to honor Johnson’s memory and support future students. The college says the outpouring of support—from messages to prayer vigils to community fundraisers—has been overwhelming.
As for the baseball season, Iowa Lakes says no decisions have been made. In Friday’s statement, the college said leadership, athletic staff, and conference partners are “thoughtfully evaluating” how to move forward, emphasizing that the priority remains the physical and emotional recovery of the team.
Iowa Lakes says its commitment to every student and family affected “remains unwavering,” and is asking the public to continue keeping the team, the Johnson family, and Greving in their thoughts.
