Tragedy in cycling: A car strikes a team of students during training; two boys killed

Yet another tragedy on the road: a cycling team from a university in Tennessee, United States, was struck by a car on Wednesday morning while the team was training for a competition.

According to local media reports, the eleven members of the Milligan University cycling team were riding on Highway 19 near Simerly Creek Road in Carter County when a vehicle plowed into them, striking the group.

Milligan University President Steven Waers announced the deaths of students Haylan Engdahl and Brayden Rogers, both 19 years old. All the other students were injured and taken to the hospital, some by helicopter: four are in critical condition in the surgical intensive care unit at Johnson City Medical Center, and at least two of them will require surgery in the coming days.

The man driving the car was arrested on a murder charge, authorities reported. Located in northeastern Tennessee, Milligan University is a small Christian university with just over 1,230 students. “I would like to invite the entire community to join us in prayer, in our grief, and in heartfelt prayer for the families of those we have lost. I would also like to invite you to pray for those who are still receiving treatment. Lord Jesus, we need you. Have mercy,” is President Waers’s moving appeal.

“We are deeply shocked and saddened to announce that several members of our cycling team were involved in a traffic accident this morning in Hampton, Tennessee, while out cycling,” reads the university’s official statement. “There are no words to adequately describe this loss. Our prayers go out to all those affected by this tragedy. Please keep the Milligan community in your prayers.”