Two Milligan University students died Wednesday morning in a crash in Carter County involving the school’s cycling team.
According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol, the crash occurred on Highway 19E near Simerly Creek Road in the Hampton area.
Milligan University identified the two students who died in the accident as sophomores Haylan Engdahl and Brayden Rogers. Several members of the Milligan cycling team were injured and seven were transported, two by air, to the Johnson City Medical Center. Ballad Health reported as of 5:30 Wednesday afternoon one of the patients they cared for related to the incident had been discharged following evaluation, six others remained hospitalized at that time.
69 year old John Benfield of Newland, North Carolina has been charged with two counts of vehicle homicide by recklessness and five counts of aggravated assault by vehicle. He is being held in the Carter County Jail.
The Tennessee Highway Patrol has released little information at this time as to the exact cause of the accident.
