Two Milligan University students dead after driver…
Two Tennessee faculty athletes had been killed and seven others injured when a reckless driver crashed into a biking staff during their training journey Wednesday morning.
Milligan University sophomores Haylan Engdahl and Brayden Rogers had been half of an 11-cyclist training session when they had been allegedly struck by 69-year-old John Benfield just before 9:00 a.m. on Highway 19E in Hampton, Tenn, the Tennessee Highway Patrol said.
“We are profoundly shocked and saddened to share that members of our cycling team were in an accident involving a vehicle this morning while cycling,” Milligan University said in a assertion. “There are no words to adequately describe this level of loss. Our prayers are with all those impacted by this tragedy.”
Crews take away a broken vehicle from the scene of a lethal crash on Highway 19E in Hampton, Tenn., on Aug. 19, 2026. WJHL
Engdahl and Rogers had been pronounced dead at the crash web site — which occurred roughly 11 miles from campus — while seven injured cyclists had been rushed to close by Johnson City Medical Center.
Four victims are in essential condition in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit, with two others in secure condition, JMCU Trauma Director Dr. Bracken Burns said.
The seventh bicycle owner was evaluated and later launched.
Officials didn’t publicly determine the injured athletes.
“Today has been an extraordinarily difficult day for a lot of people in upper East Tennessee,” the Tennessee Highway Patrol said in a assertion. “Families have misplaced family members. Others are ready for news about people who had been damage. Teammates, coaches and an whole college group try to course of one thing no one anticipated when this day started.
“We know there are people hurting right now, and before we talk about the investigation, we want them to know that our hearts also break and we are praying for them,” the THP said.
Haylan Engdahl was killed in the crash when a reckless driver allegedly crashed into his group of cyclists. Milligan University
Brayden Rodgers was with his Milligan University teammates when he was killed in the crash on Aug. 19, 2026. Milligan University
Benfield, a resident of Newland, NC, was charged with two counts of vehicular murder by recklessness and 5 counts of aggravated assault by vehicle by recklessness, Tennessee First Judicial District Attorney General Steven Finney said.
Finney didn’t present particulars about the crash, including whether or not the suspected driver was under the affect.
Additional costs could also be filed against Benfield following the investigation, Finney said.
Benfield is being held in Carter County jail.
Finney didn’t fault the cyclists for the crash, saying they had been an skilled group who had been out for a typical training session.
“This is an elite cycling team. It’s not a bunch of club guys getting together to ride. They know what they’re doing,” he said.
Engdahl, a native of Winthrop Harbor, Ill., and Rogers, from Huntsville, Ala., had been mourned by the biking group as “two student-athletes whose lives were taken far too soon.”
“We are deeply saddened to learn of this morning’s tragic crash involving the Milligan University Cycling team. Our hearts go out to the two student-athletes whose lives were taken far too soon, Haylan Engdahl and Brayden Rogers, as well as to the riders who were injured,” USA Cycling said in a assertion.
Officials didn’t present particulars about the crash, including whether or not the suspected driver was under the affect. WJHL
Brayden Rodgers was a sophomore at the personal Christian college. Instagram /braydenrogersmtb
Haylan Engdahl was remembered for his heat character. Instagram / hayy_hayy111
Engdahl had lately recovered from a damaged femur that he suffered after crashing during training in March, according to his Instagram.
The teen, who attended Christian Life School in Kenosha, Wisc. was remembered for his heat character.
“A beautiful person, infectious smile, magnetic personality, loved life,” Jeff Bogaczyk, head of college at Christian Life School, told ABC7 Chicago.
Wednesday’s deadly crash comes more than 4 years after another Milligan University athlete was killed in a comparable crash.
Sophomore runner Eli Cramer was out on a pre-track meet run with two teammates when they had been struck by a drunk driver in Lightfoot, Va., on March 31, 2022.
Jose Efrain Hernandez Mancia pleaded guilty to DUI involuntary manslaughter for the lethal hit-and-run crash, WAVY reported.
He was sentenced to 12 years in prison in April 2023.
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