A tragic incident has rocked the Milligan University community as a 69-year-old man, John Benfield, faces serious charges after allegedly driving his car into a group of cyclists, resulting in the deaths of two students and injuries to five others. This 𝓈𝒽𝓸𝒸𝓀𝒾𝓃𝑔 event unfolded on Wednesday morning in Hampton, Tennessee, during a routine training ride.
According to reports, Benfield was behind the wheel of his 2003 Subaru Baja Sport when he struck the cyclists around 9 a. m. The police investigation revealed that he showed no signs of attempting to brake or steer clear of the group, raising grave concerns about his actions leading up to the collision.
Eyewitness accounts and police documents indicate that the smell of marijuana was present in his vehicle at the scene.
Court documents detail a troubling history for Benfield, who has faced multiple criminal traffic violations over the years. His past includes a DUI conviction in Florida from 1990 and several other offenses in North Carolina, though specifics about those cases remain unclear.
The moments before the crash were captured in the criminal complaint, which states that Benfield failed to notice the cyclists ahead of him after another vehicle changed lanes. This lack of awareness reportedly contributed to the deadly outcome, as he was unable to react in time to avoid the cyclists.
Benfield has been charged with two counts of vehicular homicide by recklessness and five counts of aggravated assault by vehicle by recklessness. He is currently being held at the Carter County Jail with bail set at $150,000. It remains uncertain whether he has secured legal representation to navigate the serious charges against him.
As the community mourns the loss of Milligan sophomores Haylan Engdahl and Brayden Rogers, questions linger about the circumstances surrounding this tragic event. What will be the next steps for those affected by this heartbreaking incident?
