Milligan University Mourns Loss of Two Collegiate Cyclists Following Tragic Tennessee Collision

The tight-knit community of American bicycle racers is mourning the deaths of two collegiate athletes following a deadly collision with a driver on August 19 in rural Tennessee. The incident, which has sent shockwaves through the national cycling scene, occurred during a routine training ride in the picturesque but challenging terrain of northeast Tennessee. According to multiple reports, 11 members of the Milligan University collegiate cycling team were navigating a stretch of Highway 19E in Carter County when a motorist plowed his vehicle into the group from behind. The Tennessee Highway Patrol, responding to an urgent emergency call, arrived at a scene of devastation, discovering two cyclists deceased and seven others suffering from various degrees of injury, ranging from minor lacerations to critical trauma.

The university, a private Christian institution located near Johnson City, later identified the deceased as Haylan Engdahl and Brayden Rogers. Both were second-year students who had become integral parts of the school’s prestigious cycling program. The loss of two young lives in the prime of their academic and athletic careers has left the campus in a state of profound grief. "I would like to invite the entire community into prayer with us, into grief with the families, and into deep prayer for the families of those we have lost," university President Stephen Waers said in a poignant statement published online. The tragedy has resonated far beyond the borders of the small campus, prompting a massive outpouring of support from the global cycling community.

As the news spread rapidly across social media platforms, the vulnerability of road cyclists became a central theme of the discourse. Instagram and Twitter were flooded with tributes from rival collegiate programs, including powerhouse teams from Lees-McRae University, Fort Lewis College, and Marian University. USA Cycling, the sport’s national governing body, issued a statement expressing its devastation, highlighting the inherent risks athletes face when sharing the road with motorized vehicles. In Europe, the news reached professional cyclist Megan Jastrab, a Milligan graduate and Olympic bronze medalist, while she was preparing for a high-stakes race in Belgium. Jastrab, who has long been the face of Milligan’s cycling success, expressed her disbelief and sorrow. "I’m absolutely heartbroken," Jastrab told Outside. "Loss like that is something you really can’t fathom. There are no words that can sum up what the Milligan community is feeling right now."

The legal ramifications of the incident began to take shape on August 20, when officials in Carter County published a detailed arrest affidavit. The document identifies the driver as 69-year-old John Alexander Benfield. He faces a litany of serious charges, including five counts of aggravated assault by vehicle and two counts of vehicular homicide. The affidavit, authored by Trooper Mason Bowen of the Tennessee State Patrol, provides a chilling account of the moments leading up to the impact. Bowen, the first responder on the scene, noted a distinct odor of marijuana emanating from Benfield’s vehicle. Furthermore, the investigation suggests that Benfield made no attempt to decelerate or maneuver his vehicle to avoid the pack of cyclists.

According to the official report, the cyclists were traveling in the outside lane of the highway. A vehicle traveling directly in front of Benfield observed the athletes and successfully merged into the inside lane to provide the required safety buffer. Benfield, however, failed to follow suit. He remained in the outside lane, striking the group at high speed. "His failure to maintain sufficient following distance and control to safely react to the bicyclists occupying the roadway, his subsequent collision with the group of bicyclists, and the serious and critical injuries resulting from the collision lead me to believe Mr. Benfield operated his vehicle with a reckless disregard for the safety of others," Bowen wrote.

The location of the crash, Highway 19E, is a staple for local cyclists. It is a hilly, winding road that passes through the wooded, rural expanses of Carter County. While the elevation changes and scenic vistas make it an ideal training ground for competitive racers, the road’s geometry and high speed limits often create dangerous interactions between cars and bikes. "I’ve lost count how many times I trained on those same roads," Jastrab remarked, highlighting how a familiar training route can turn into a site of tragedy in an instant.

To understand the magnitude of this loss, one must look at the unique culture of Milligan University. With an undergraduate population of approximately 900 students, the school is a place where nearly everyone knows one another. Located near the Appalachian Trail and an hour north of Asheville, North Carolina, the university has leveraged its geography to build one of the most successful collegiate cycling programs in the United States. Unlike many colleges where cycling is a club-level activity with limited funding, Milligan treats cycling as a varsity sport, offering scholarships to attract top-tier talent.

Megan Jastrab’s career is a testament to the program’s efficacy. A cycling prodigy from Southern California, Jastrab chose Milligan over turning professional immediately after high school. She sought a balance between elite competition and academic stability, pursuing degrees in exercise physiology and business. "Cycling became my job while I was doing university, but I could race on the collegiate team and have a lot of fun," she said. The school’s administration went to great lengths to support her, allowing her to attend classes remotely while she traveled the world to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics.

The Milligan program is known for its "Bike House," a hub for team activity that features mountain bike trails and a cyclocross track. It is an environment that welcomes newcomers with the same enthusiasm it shows to future Olympians. Jastrab emphasized that the team functioned more like a family than a traditional sports squad. "It was such a welcoming atmosphere for new cyclists," she recalled. "The team did a great job of showing kids what cycling is for, which is to have fun, be active, and make community." This communal spirit is what makes the deaths of Engdahl and Rogers so devastating for the student body. The loss is not confined to the athletic department; it is felt in the dormitories, the dining halls, and the classrooms.

This incident also shines a spotlight on the broader issue of road safety and the rising rate of cyclist fatalities in the United States. Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has shown a worrying trend over the last decade, with pedalcyclist deaths reaching their highest levels since the 1970s. Advocacy groups like PeopleForBikes and the League of American Bicyclists have long argued for stricter "vulnerable road user" laws and better infrastructure. In many states, including Tennessee, "Move Over" laws and the "3-foot rule"—which requires motorists to give cyclists at least three feet of space when passing—are in place, but enforcement remains a challenge, and driver distraction or impairment continues to claim lives.

The allegation of marijuana use in the Benfield case adds a layer of complexity to the tragedy. As more states move toward the legalization or decriminalization of cannabis, law enforcement agencies have expressed concerns about the difficulty of assessing real-time impairment compared to alcohol. In Tennessee, vehicular homicide involving intoxication is a Class B felony, carrying significant prison time. The legal proceedings in Carter County will likely be closely watched by safety advocates and the cycling community alike, as they seek justice for the fallen students.

As Milligan University prepares for memorial services, the cycling world remains in a state of reflection. The tragedy serves as a grim reminder of the fragility of life for those who use the road for sport and transport. For Jastrab, the distance from Tennessee to Belgium does nothing to dull the pain of the news. "I feel the loss and I’m all the way over here in Europe," she said. The school campus, usually buzzing with the energy of a new academic year, is now a place of quiet contemplation and shared sorrow. The legacy of Haylan Engdahl and Brayden Rogers will undoubtedly be honored by their teammates, who must now find the courage to return to the roads they once shared, carrying the memory of their friends with every pedal stroke.