Two college cyclists killed, seven injured after driver strikes team in Tennessee

Two members of the Milligan University cycling team, sophomores Brayden Rogers and Haylan Engdahl, were killed in a crash on Highway 19E near Simerly Creek Road in Carter County, Tennessee, around 8 a.m. on Wednesday. Seven other cyclists were injured. Milligan University, a private Christian liberal arts school in northeastern Tennessee, reported the incident. The driver, John Benfield, 69, of Newland, North Carolina, was charged with two counts of vehicular homicide by recklessness and five counts of aggravated assault by vehicle by recklessness. He was booked into jail. Stephen Waers, the president of Milligan, addressed the community in a YouTube video, urging prayer for the victims' families and injured cyclists. Seven of the school’s 11 cyclists were taken to Johnson City Medical Center for treatment, though further details on their condition were not released. The Tennessee Highway Patrol reported a large response of emergency workers, including air medical teams, to transport injured individuals. The crash remains under investigation. Tennessee Highway Patrol Maj. Roy Brown stated that authorities aim to provide answers to the families and the community. District Attorney Steven R. Finney announced that officials will organize a meeting for the families to share information. Milligan University, with an enrollment of around 1,200 students, has an elite cycling team that recently won the men’s team time trial national title at the USA Cycling Collegiate Road Nationals in Madison, Wisconsin. Finney emphasized that the team members were serious cyclists, participating in local races and riding in a peloton. He stressed the dignity and respect due to the victims and their families. The incident highlights the tragic loss of young athletes and underscores the importance of community support and thorough investigations in such cases.