A tragic incident in Tennessee has left two young college athletes dead and seven others injured after a driver plowed into a cycling team during its training session on Wednesday morning.
The victims, Milligan University sophomores Haylan Engdahl and Brayden Rogers, were participating in an 11-person cycling practice when 69-year-old John Benfield reportedly hit them on Highway 19E in Hampton, Tennessee, just before 9:00 a.m., according to the Tennessee Highway Patrol.
“We are profoundly shocked and saddened to share that members of our cycling team were involved in a tragic vehicle accident this morning,” Milligan University expressed in a heartfelt statement. “There are no words to adequately describe this level of loss. Our prayers are with all those impacted by this tragedy.”
Engdahl and Rogers were declared dead at the scene, which is situated about 11 miles from the university campus. The seven other cyclists were promptly taken to Johnson City Medical Center for treatment.
At the medical center, four of the injured remain in critical condition in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit, while two are reportedly in stable condition, according to JMCU Trauma Director Dr. Bracken Burns.
The seventh cyclist was evaluated and later released.
Officials did not publicly identify 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 statement. “Families have lost loved ones. Others are waiting for news about people who were hurt. Teammates, coaches and an entire university community are trying to process something no one expected when this day began.
“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.
Benfield, a resident of Newland, NC, was charged with two counts of vehicular homicide by recklessness and five counts of aggravated assault by vehicle by recklessness, Tennessee First Judicial District Attorney General Steven Finney said.
Finney didn’t provide details about the crash, including whether the suspected driver was under the influence.
Additional charges may 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 were an experienced group who were 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., were mourned by the cycling community 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 statement.
Engdahl had recently recovered from a broken 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 warm character.
“A beautiful person, infectious smile, magnetic personality, loved life,” Jeff Bogaczyk, head of school at Christian Life School, told ABC7 Chicago.
Wednesday’s fatal crash comes more than four years after another Milligan University athlete was killed in a similar crash.
Sophomore runner Eli Cramer was out on a pre-track meet run with two teammates when they were struck by a drunk driver in Lightfoot, Va., on March 31, 2022.
Jose Efrain Hernandez Mancia pleaded guilty to DUI involuntary manslaughter for the deadly hit-and-run crash, WAVY reported.
He was sentenced to 12 years in prison in April 2023.