Two students killed, driver charged after crash into Tennessee college cycling team

Milligan University sophomores Haylan Engdahl and Brayden Rogers were killed and seven other college cyclists were injured in the crash on Highway 19 in Carter County.

Two Tennessee college team cyclists were killed, seven others were injured and a driver was criminally charged after he struck team members who were training on a road Wednesday, officials said.

The crash around 9 a.m. on Highway 19 in Carter County killed Milligan University sophomores Haylan Engdahl and Brayden Rogers, the small Christian liberal arts college and the state Highway Patrol said.

“I would like to invite the entire community into prayer with us, into grief with the families, with us, and into deep prayer for the families of those we have lost,” university President Stephen Waers said at a news conference.

The driver of the vehicle, John Benfield, 69, of Newland, North Carolina, is charged with two counts of vehicular homicide by recklessness and five counts of aggravated assault by vehicle by recklessness, First Judicial District Attorney General Steven Finney said.

Traffic stopped along Highway 19 after a motorist struck members of the Milligan University cycling team Wednesday.Sam RogersIn addition to the people who died, seven other members of that team were injured, Highway Patrol Maj. Roy Brown said.