Two Milligan University Cyclists Killed in Tennessee Traffic Accident

Two students from Milligan University, a private Christian institution in Tennessee, were killed and seven others injured when a vehicle struck their cycling team during a morning training ride in Hampton. The victims, identified as sophomores Haylan Engdahl and Brayden Rogers, were part of an eleven-member group practicing on a highway in Carter County when the collision occurred around 8 a.m. on Wednesday.

Following the incident, the driver, 69-year-old John Alexander Benfield of North Carolina, was arrested and charged with two counts of vehicular homicide by recklessness and five counts of aggravated assault by vehicle by recklessness. Court documents indicate that officers detected the scent of marijuana in the vehicle at the scene, and District Attorney Steve Finney stated that additional charges may be pending.

Milligan University President Stephen Waers expressed deep grief over the tragedy, noting that several of the injured students remain in critical condition at Johnson City Medical Center, while two have been released. In a public statement, Waers invited the university community to gather in prayer and support for the families affected by the loss.