Officers smelled marijuana in the car driven by the man charged with killing two members of a Tennessee Christian university’s cycling team and injuring seven others, according to newly released court documents.
Milligan University identified the two sophomores killed as Haylan Engdahl and Brayden Rogers. The seven injured students were taken to Johnson City Medical Center, where at least four were in critical condition, hospital officials said.
“We are profoundly shocked and saddened to share that members of our cycling team were in a crash involving a vehicle this morning while cycling in Hampton, TN. Sophomores Haylan Engdahl and Brayden Rogers were killed in this accident,” Milligan University said in a statement. “Multiple other Milligan cyclists were also seriously injured and are currently receiving treatment at the Johnson City Medical Center.
“There are no words to adequately describe this level of loss,” the statement continued. “Our prayers are with all those impacted by this tragedy. Please keep the Milligan community in your prayers.”
Milligan University is a private Christian school in Elizabethton. Eleven team members were on a morning training ride when the crash occurred.
Milligan President Stephen Waers said in an emotional video announcement that the team was was struck by the vehicle around 8 a.m. While two have died, others are in critical condition. Two have been released from the hospital.
“It is more important than ever right now that we are a community gathered around Jesus,” Waers said. “We need Jesus deeply. I’d like to invite you into prayer with us, grief with us and to prayer for the families of those we have lost, into prayer for those who are still receiving treatment. Lord Jesus, we need you; have mercy.”
John Alexander Benfield, 69, of North Carolina, is charged with two counts of vehicular homicide by recklessness and five counts of aggravated assault by vehicle by recklessness, District Attorney Steve Finney announced.
Benfield could face additional charges in Wednesday’s crash, Finney said. The crash happened on a highway in Carter County, in the northeastern part of the state, according to the Tennessee Highway Patrol.
Finney described the team as “elite,” adding, “It’s not a bunch of just club guys getting together to ride, they know what they’re doing. They rode in a peloton.” A peloton is the tight main pack riders form to cut wind resistance.
Benfield was booked at the Carter County Detention Center, WCYB reported Wednesday. Court documents cited in the outlet’s Thursday report show his bail was set at $150,000.
According to an affidavit obtained by the outlet, officers who reached the scene before Tennessee Highway Patrol Trooper Mason Bowen arrived smelled marijuana coming from Benfield’s car.
Benfield was driving a 2003 Subaru Baja Sport, investigators said, but the affidavit does not say they found marijuana in the car. It also does not include the results of any drug or alcohol testing, and it does not state that Benfield was impaired at the time of the crash.
According to the affidavit, Benfield was traveling in the outside lane behind another vehicle when that vehicle moved into the inside lane. He did not see the cyclists ahead of him, and investigators found no evidence that he braked or tried to steer around them.
Investigators said Benfield was following too closely or driving in a way that kept him from seeing the students in time to avoid them, disregarding the safety of others on the road.
During a press conference Wednesday, Maj. Roy Brown of the Tennessee Highway Patrol said authorities are working “to determine exactly what happened.”
“We know the families and Milligan University deeply want answers, and we want to provide those answers, but it’s our responsibility to ensure that we conduct a fair investigation thoroughly and provide facts based on that investigation,” Brown said.
Samantha Kamman is a reporter for The Christian Post. She can be reached at: [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter: @Samantha_Kamman
Continue reading
