The Milligan University community is mourning the tragic deaths of Haylan Engdahl and Brayden Rogers, two sophomores who were killed when a vehicle struck members of the university’s cycling team during a training ride in Hampton, Tennessee.
The collision occurred Wednesday morning, August 19, 2026, at approximately 8 a.m. on Highway 19E near Simerly Creek Road in Carter County, east of Johnson City.
According to Milligan University, 11 members of the cycling team were participating in the training ride when they were struck by a vehicle. Engdahl and Rogers died in the crash, while several other cyclists suffered serious injuries.
Milligan University Mourns Haylan Engdahl and Brayden Rogers
Milligan University President Stephen Waers confirmed the deaths of Engdahl and Rogers and described the incident as a devastating loss for the university community.
Both students were members of the Milligan cycling team, where they shared their commitment to athletics, teamwork and training with fellow students.
Their deaths have left teammates, classmates, coaches, faculty members and friends grieving the sudden loss of two young lives.
The university expressed condolences to the students’ families and concern for the cyclists who survived the crash.
Several Cyclists Injured in Hampton Crash
Seven Milligan cyclists were reportedly injured in the collision and transported to area hospitals for treatment. Four of those injured students were reported to remain in critical condition.
Emergency responders, medical personnel and law enforcement officers rushed to the scene to assist the victims and secure the area.
The crash prompted a significant emergency response along Highway 19E as authorities began investigating the circumstances surrounding the collision.
Driver Faces Charges
Authorities identified the driver as 69-year-old John Benfield of North Carolina.
According to reports, Benfield was taken into custody and faces two counts of vehicular homicide by recklessness and five counts of aggravated assault by vehicle.
The charges are allegations, and the case remains subject to court proceedings. The Tennessee Highway Patrol continues to investigate the crash, and a complete account of what caused the vehicle to strike the cyclists has not yet been released.
Remembering Haylan Engdahl and Brayden Rogers
Haylan Engdahl and Brayden Rogers will be remembered by the Milligan University community as students, teammates and friends whose lives touched many people.
Their deaths have created a profound void within the cycling program and across the university.
As their families, teammates and friends mourn, the community is also praying for the cyclists who survived and continue to recover from their injuries.
Haylan Engdahl and Brayden Rogers will be deeply missed by their families, friends, teammates, classmates and the entire Milligan University community.
May their memories bring comfort to those who loved them, and may the injured cyclists receive strength and healing in the days ahead.