At least two medical helicopters and ambulances from four counties responded.

The identity of the person who died was not released by the Iowa State Patrol as of Wednesday evening.

Members of the Iowa Lakes Community College baseball team were on the bus, heading to a baseball tournament in Arkansas.

“The safety and well being of our students and staff remain our highest priority,” the Estherville based college said in a written statement. “The college is actively supporting those affected and communicating directly with families. Out of respect for the privacy of those involved and their families, the college will not be releasing names or additional details at this time.”

-Messenger photo by Deanna Meyer
The Pomeroy Fire Department was one of three that responded to the scene of the bus wreck, along with Manson and Rockwell City.

The crash happened at about 11 a.m. Wednesday on Iowa Highway 4 near Twin Lakes on a section of road sometimes called the Jolley curve, according to Trooper Paul Gardner of the Iowa State Patrol. He said the bus went off the road and overturned.

Gardner said there were 33 people on the bus. One died and 32 were injured, he said.

UnityPoint Health received 12 of the injured people at two of its hospitals. Two of them were airlifted to Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines. The other 10 were taken by ambulance to Trinity Regional Medical Center in Fort Dodge.

The remaining patients were taken to other area hospitals.

In its statement, Iowa Lakes Community College said the team was to play North Arkansas College in Harrison, Arkansas, today.

-Messenger photo by Deanna Meyer
A schoolbus from the Pocahontas Area Community School District was brought to the site to serve as a support vehicle.

Iowa Central Community College is a member of the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference with Iowa Lakes, and the Tritons and Lakers have been long-time league rivals.

ICCC head baseball coach Eric Stein shared his deepest sympathy on behalf of his own program as the school and the ILCC community navigate an uncertain future following the tragedy.

“Obviously something like this just leaves you in a state of shock,” Stein said. “You hear rumblings at first of what happened and your heart sinks. We are competitors and all of that by nature, but first and foremost, we’re all human beings and we care about one another.”

“It’s kind of a big fraternity of sorts,” he added. “So we’ve definitely felt the impact from afar. I know I can speak for both our school and the rest of the conference in passing along our thoughts and prayers to Iowa Lakes. We’re all pulling for them and hoping for the best outcome from an absolutely horrific situation.”

The Iowa Lakes baseball program is led by former Humboldt standout Chris Witzke. He was named head coach in 2023.

“Coach Witzke is a local guy who I’ve known dating back to even his playing days,” Stein said. “It’s just hard to put into words how we all feel. For him to have to go through something like this as a young coach — or really any time — is just horrific.

“They will need a lot of love and support from everyone to help them through this incredibly difficult situation. We just want them to know we are here for them.”

Gardner said the bus was taken to a facility where technical investigators from the State Patrol can thoroughly examine it.

The crash prompted a massive response. Iowa State Patrol troopers were joined at the scene by law enforcement officers from the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office, Sac County Sheriff’s Office, Webster County Sheriff’s Office, Pomeroy Police Department, Rockwell City Police Department and the Fort Dodge Police Department.

The Manson, Pomeroy and Rockwell City fire departments responded.

Ambulances from Calhoun County EMS, Sac County EMS, Pocahontas Community Hospital, Fort Dodge Fire Department, Southwest Webster EMS, Fonda EMS, Dayton Rescue Squad, and the Otho Fire Department responded.

The Calhoun County Emergency Management Agency and the Iowa Department of Transportation were also on scene.

A schoolbus from the Pocahontas Area Community School District was brought to the site to serve as a support vehicle.

Sports Editor Eric Pratt contributed to this story.