John Benfield Bicycle Accident, Newland, North Carolina Death – 2 Students killed, Injured 7 After Crash
John Benfield Death, Obituary – A devastating crash in Carter County, Tennessee, has left two college students dead and seven others injured after a vehicle struck a group of cyclists during a training ride on Wednesday, August 19, 2026.
Authorities identified the driver as 69-year-old John Benfield of Newland, North Carolina, who was arrested following the crash. According to authorities, Benfield is facing two counts of vehicular homicide by recklessness and five counts of aggravated assault by vehicle by recklessness.
The victims were members of the Milligan University cycling team, and the tragedy has sent shockwaves through the university community.
The collision occurred at approximately 9 a.m. Wednesday along Highway 19E near Simerly Creek Road in the Hampton area of Carter County, Tennessee.
According to authorities, a group of 11 Milligan University cyclists was participating in a training ride when the vehicle allegedly crashed into them. The location was roughly 10 to 12 miles from the university campus and close to the North Carolina-Tennessee border.
Two students died as a result of the crash, while seven others were injured.
Milligan University identified the students who died as Haylan Engdahl of Winthrop Harbor, Illinois, and Brayden Rogers of Huntsville, Alabama.
Both were sophomores at Milligan University.
The university expressed profound grief following their deaths, saying there were no words adequate to describe the magnitude of the loss.
Their deaths have left classmates, teammates, professors, coaches, friends, and family members grieving the loss of two young people whose lives were still unfolding.
Seven other cyclists were injured in the collision.
Medical officials said that one injured cyclist was released from the hospital Wednesday, while four remained in critical condition and two others had been stabilized at the time of the initial briefing.
The injuries have added another layer of heartbreak for the Milligan community, as families and friends wait for updates about the recovery of those who survived.
Benfield, who lives in Newland, North Carolina, was arrested following the crash.
According to District Attorney General Steven Finney, he was charged with:
- Two counts of vehicular homicide by recklessness
- Five counts of aggravated assault by vehicle by recklessness
Officials said additional charges could potentially follow as the investigation continues.
Authorities have not established through the information available that Benfield intentionally struck the cyclists. The charges concern the alleged reckless operation of the vehicle.
A subsequent affidavit provided additional information about how investigators believe the collision occurred.
According to the affidavit, Benfield was driving a 2003 Subaru Baja Sport and was following another vehicle. When the vehicle ahead changed lanes, investigators allege that Benfield failed to see the group of cyclists traveling in the same lane.
The affidavit alleges that he was following at a distance that did not provide sufficient time or distance to perceive and react to the roadway conditions.
Investigators also reportedly found no physical evidence indicating that Benfield had applied the brakes or taken evasive action before the collision.
The affidavit further states that law enforcement reported an odor of marijuana coming from Benfield’s vehicle. However, officials have not stated that he was impaired, and the investigation remains ongoing.
The tragedy has deeply affected Milligan University, a small private Christian university in Tennessee.
University President Stephen Waers spoke publicly about the deaths and urged the university community to come together in prayer and grief.
His message reflected the enormous emotional burden being carried by students, faculty, staff, families, and friends following the tragedy.
For the cycling team in particular, the loss of two teammates and injuries to several others have transformed what was intended to be a routine training ride into an unimaginable tragedy.
The crash also had a significant emotional impact on emergency personnel who responded to the scene.
The Carter County sheriff described the day as extremely difficult for first responders and asked the public to keep them, the victims’ families, and the Milligan University community in their thoughts and prayers.
Serious crashes involving multiple critically injured people can place enormous demands on emergency responders, medical teams, law enforcement officers, and other personnel.
For their families and friends, Haylan Engdahl and Brayden Rogers were much more than names associated with a tragic news story.
They were students, friends, teammates, family members, and young people with futures ahead of them.
Their involvement with Milligan’s cycling program created friendships and shared experiences that will remain significant to those who knew them.
Their teammates will now face the difficult task of returning to a sport and community that has been profoundly changed by their absence.
The Milligan University community is now coming together to support those affected.
Students and staff are being asked to lean on one another as they process the tragedy. For many, grief may be accompanied by shock and uncertainty as they think about the classmates and teammates who were killed or seriously injured.
The university’s response has emphasized community, prayer, compassion, and support.
Those values may become especially important in the difficult weeks ahead.
Authorities continue investigating the circumstances of the crash.
The roadway was closed for several hours while investigators worked at the scene. Officials have not yet provided a complete account of every factor involved in the collision.
Because the criminal case is ongoing, allegations against Benfield should be understood as allegations unless established in court.
Although the crash occurred in Tennessee, the tragedy has also deeply affected Newland and the surrounding North Carolina community, where Benfield is from.
Newland is located in Avery County, near the Tennessee border. The crash site was relatively close to both the North Carolina state line and Milligan University.
The proximity of these communities means the consequences of the tragedy extend well beyond the immediate crash site.
The deaths of Haylan Engdahl and Brayden Rogers have left a permanent mark on Milligan University and everyone connected to the cycling team.
Seven other cyclists are recovering from injuries, while their families and friends wait and hope for continued improvement.
The full impact of the tragedy will likely be felt for a long time.
