Last Updated on September 9, 2026 6:47 pm
John Benfield, the Newland man charged in the fatal Aug. 19 crash that killed two Milligan University cycling team members, was denied reinstatement of bond during a hearing Wednesday, Sept. 9, in Carter County, Tennessee, according to reporting by WJHL and WCYB.
Judge Keith Bowers ruled that Benfield, 69, will continue to be held at the Carter County Jail. His next court appearance is scheduled for Sept. 18 at 9 a.m.
Benfield also saw additional charges filed Wednesday, including felony reckless endangerment and two new counts of aggravated assault, on top of the two counts of reckless vehicular homicide and five counts of reckless aggravated assault by vehicle he already faced.
The bond denial and new charges follow Benfield's Aug. 27 rearrest, after he was accused of violating the conditions of his release. According to an affidavit, Benfield was required to submit to a random drug screen as a bond condition, and the results reportedly showed use of THC and alcohol.
Benfield remains presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. He was originally charged after the Tennessee Highway Patrol said his vehicle struck a group of Milligan University cyclists on Aug. 19 on Highway 19E near Simerly Creek Road in Hampton, Tennessee. Two sophomore student-athletes, Haylan Engdahl and Brayden Rogers, were killed in the crash, and several others were injured.
