Two members of the Milligan University cycling team were killed and seven more were injured after being struck by a driver while training.
Sophomores Haylan Engdahl and Brayden Rogers were pronounced dead after being hit by a car on a road in Carter County, Tennessee, just after 9 a.m. on Wednesday, August 19. Milligan University is a private Christian school located in Milligan College, Tennessee.
The driver of the vehicle, John Benfield, 69, has been charged with two counts of vehicular homicide by recklessness and five counts of aggravated assault by vehicle by recklessness, according to First Judicial District Attorney General Steven Finney.
Six of the seven injured cyclists remained hospitalized as of Wednesday evening. Four of them were in critical condition in the surgical intensive care unit, the hospital’s trauma medical director, Dr. Bracken Burns, said at a press conference.
According to an affidavit obtained by News 5, Benfield was behind the wheel of his 2003 Subaru Baja Sport in the outside lane behind another vehicle. When the vehicle in front of him moved into the inside lane, investigators say Benfield failed to observe the cyclists in the outside lane.
Benfield was allegedly traveling at a distance or in a manner that did not allow him enough time or distance to react to the cyclists. The affidavit states there is no evidence Benfield attempted to apply his brakes or avoid striking the group.
Investigators also indicated the smell of marijuana, though the affidavit does not state if any drugs were found on the scene or if drugs or alcohol are suspected to have contributed to the crash.
Benfield’s bond was set at $150,000, and Finney suggested other charges could be filed.
“This is an elite cycling team. It’s not a bunch of just club guys getting together to ride. They know what they’re doing,” Finney said.
Milligan University issued a statement after the incident, saying, “There are no words to adequately describe this level of loss.”
“Our prayers are with all those impacted by this tragedy,” the school’s statement added. “Please keep the Milligan community in your prayers.”
Engdahl, one of the cyclists killed, had been involved in a separate accident while training earlier this year.
“One door closes and another one opens,” he shared via Instagram in March. “I’m going to be out for a little bit after a training crash that ended up with me having a broken femur. Although it sucks it could always be worse and I’m thankful to everyone that helped and got me through. Spirits are still high and I know there’s a plan in all this but just for now I’ll probably be cheering from the sideline for a few months.”
