Court documents detail what led up to fatal cycling crash

Court documents obtained by WCYB news detail what investigators say happened just before a vehicle struck members of the Milligan University cycling team Wednesday, killing two cyclists and seriously injuring several others. District Attorney Steve Finney says 69 year old John Alexander Benfield of North Carolina has been charged with two counts of vehicular homicide and five counts of aggravated assault by vehicle The crash happened around 9:02 a.m. Wednesday on U.S. Highway 19E near Simerly Creek Road in Carter County. Investigators said the cyclists were struck by a 2003 Subaru Baja Sport driven by Benfield. Milligan University has identified the two students killed as sophomores Haylan Engdahl and Brayden Rodgers. Seven people were taken to Johnson City Medical Center following the crash, most with serious injuries that required surgery. Investigators said the vehicle in front of Benfield moved from the outside lane into the inside lane and says Benfield then failed to see the group of cyclists traveling ahead of him in the outside lane. Benfield was said to be traveling at a distance or in a manner that did not allow him enough time or distance to see and react to the cyclists. The affidavit also says that investigators found no physical evidence indicating Benfield applied the brakes or took evasive action before the impact. The documents also mention that multiple officers reported marijuana odor coming from Benfield’s vehicle. The affidavit does not state that marijuana was found in the vehicle, that Benfield was impaired at the time of the crash and also does not include results of any drug or alcohol testing.