Benfield Failed to Brake Before Crash That Killed 2 Milligan Cyclists

Q: What hidden dangers on a Tennessee highway turned a championship cycling team's morning ride into a deadly tragedy?

The deadly risk appears to have been a mix of cyclists riding on a busy open highway and the absence of confirmed protections separating them from motor traffic, not any single officially established road defect. Authorities said nine Milligan University riders were on a morning team ride on Highway 19E near Simerly Creek Road in Carter County when a passenger car struck the group, killing sophomores Haylan Engdahl and Brayden Rogers and injuring five others. What remains hidden, and crucial, is that highways like 19E can expose cyclists to fast-moving vehicles, narrow or limited shoulders, and little margin for error when cars and bicycles share the same travel corridor. The route is described in local material as a major corridor between Elizabethton and Hampton with steady commuter and commercial traffic, conditions that can magnify danger for riders even in daylight. Investigators have not yet said what specifically caused the crash, and no charges had been filed as of the latest reports. That means it is too early to attribute the collision to speed, distraction, road design, or rider positioning. But the broader safety lesson is clear: cyclists on high-traffic rural highways are especially vulnerable when there are no protected bike lanes, reduced-speed buffers, or stronger separation from cars. Emergency response was extensive, with helicopters and trauma teams deployed, underscoring how severe such roadway collisions can become within seconds.

3 articles · Updated · wpde.com · Aug 20

Court documents say John Alexander Benfield, 69, neither braked nor took evasive action before his Subaru struck about 10 Milligan University cyclists on U.S. Highway 19E, killing two sophomores and injuring seven others.
Investigators allege Benfield was following another vehicle in the outside lane when it moved left, leaving him without enough time or space to perceive and react to the cyclists ahead.
The affidavit says that failure to observe the group, keep sufficient distance and control the vehicle amounted to reckless conduct; Benfield faces 2 vehicular homicide counts and 5 aggravated-assault counts.
Officers also reported a marijuana odor from Benfield's vehicle, though the affidavit says no drugs were found and includes no alcohol or drug-test results; his bond was set at $150,000.
Ballad Health said 2 patients were stable and 4 were in surgical intensive care Wednesday evening, while the Tennessee Highway Patrol said the investigation could bring additional charges.