John Benfield jailed for bond violation in fatal Milligan University cycling crash

John Alexander Benfield, 69, has been jailed without bond in Carter County, Tennessee, after being charged with violating his bond supervision following a fatal crash involving Milligan University cyclists.

The August 19 incident on U.S. Highway 19E resulted in the deaths of sophomores Haylan Engdahl and Brayden Rogers, and injuries to seven other members of the university cycling team. Benfield faces two counts of vehicular homicide by recklessness and five counts of aggravated assault by vehicle by recklessness. Investigators stated that Benfield allegedly failed to react to the group of cyclists ahead of him and showed no evidence of applying brakes before the collision.

Benfield was arrested in Avery County, North Carolina, after allegedly failing a random drug screen that showed the presence of THC and alcohol. This violated his bond conditions, which prohibited the use of alcohol or illegal drugs and included a prohibition on driving. He waived extradition and was returned to the Carter County Detention Center.