A tragedy occurred on Wednesday morning (August 19) in Tennessee, when a reckless driver plowed his car into a group of cyclists during their training ride, killing two young students and injuring seven others.
According to the state highway patrol, the two sophomores at Milligan University, Haylan Engdahl and Brayden Rogers, were participating in a training ride with 11 cyclists when a 69-year-old driver suddenly struck them with his vehicle. The two students were pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. Meanwhile, seven cyclists were transported by ambulance to the hospital, two of whom are in critical condition.
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The 69-year-old driver of the car, John Benfield, a resident of Newland, North Carolina, has been charged with two counts of vehicular manslaughter by negligence and five counts of vehicular gross negligence causing serious bodily injury, as noted by Tennessee’s First Judicial District Attorney, Steven Finney.
Finney did not provide further details regarding the accident, including whether the suspect was under the influence of substances. It is possible that additional charges will be filed against Benfield once the investigation is complete, Finney said. He is currently being held at the Carter County Jail.
Finney did not blame the cyclists for the accident, saying they were an experienced group that had gone out for a routine training ride. “This is an elite cycling team. They’re not just a group of club members who get together to ride bikes. They know what they’re doing,” he noted.
“Two student-athletes who lost their lives far too soon”
“We are deeply shocked by the news of the tragic accident that occurred this morning involving the Milligan University cycling team. Our condolences go out to the two student-athletes whose lives were cut short—Haylan Engdahl and Brayden Rogers—as well as to the cyclists who were injured,” said USA Cycling in a statement.
The full statement from USA Cycling:
“We are deeply saddened by the news of the tragic accident that occurred this morning involving the Milligan University cycling team. Our condolences go out to the two student-athletes who lost their lives far too soon, Haylan Engdahl and Brayden Rogers, as well as to the cyclists who were injured.
We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of Haylan and Brayden, their teammates, their friends, their coaches, and the entire Milligan University community as they navigate this extremely difficult time.”
Engdahl, who attended Christian Life School in Kenosha, Wisconsin, will be remembered by all for his warm personality. “A wonderful person, with a contagious smile and a magnetic personality, who loved life,” Jeff Bogaczyk, principal of Christian Life School, told ABC7.
Source: Protothema.gr
