Benfield's traffic violations go back to Florida in 1990

John Alexander Benfield, 69, Newland, N.C., had a long record of traffic violations in Florida and North Carolina going back to 1990. He is now facing charges in Tennessee for two counts of vehicular homicide and five counts of reckless aggravated assault following an accident on Wednesday, when he crashed his 2003 Subaru Baja Sport into members of the Milligan University cycling team on U.S. Highway 19E in Carter County. Records obtained by the Johnson City Press show that Benfield was convicted of two traffic offenses in Lee County, Florida late in 1990. Benfield was charged with his first DUI on July 8, 1990. Just a short time later, he was charged with operating a motor vehicle while his driver's license was suspended on Sept. 9, 1990. He was found guilty of the DUI charge on Oct. 2, 1990. Benfield has been charged with traffic violations in several North Carolina counties over the years. He was charged with driving on an expired license on Dec. 2, 1996. On Dec. 10, 1998, Benfield was charged by the Avery County Sheriff's Office with driving while impaired. His license was revoked for 30 days. On July 16, 2012, Benfield was charged by the Banner Elk Police Department with DWI - Level 5, according to North Carolina court records. The police department reported a breath test had a reading of 0.14. He was found guilty on Dec. 17, 2012. He was confined for 60 days and performed community service. In late 2017, the Morganton, N.C. Department of Public Safety charged Benfield with unsafe movement. He was fined $213. In addition to the DUI charges, there are also other citations for open container violations and driving while Benfield's license was revoked in Avery and Burke counties. Ballad Health reports that three members of the Milligan University cycling team remain hospitalized at Johnson City Medical Center. The Sunday afternoon entry on Ballad's Facebook page said all three patients are in stable condition on medical-surgical units. "The patients continue to recover, and our teams remain focused on providing the care and support they need throughout their healing process." Ballad said in the Facebook post. The Facebook post indicates progress in the injured team members' recovery. On Friday, Ballad shared on social media that there were four patients still hospitalized. Two other members of the bicycle team, Hayland Engdahl and Brayden Rogers were pronounced dead at the accident scene on Wednesday. Benfield had his first day in court on the hew newest charges on Thursday, where Carter County Sessions Court judge increased his bond from $150,000 to $300,000. Benfield posted the bond later on Thursday and has been released from pre trial confinement at the Carter County Detention Center. He is scheduled to return to court on Aug. 31 for a preliminary hearing. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is continuing to develop the toxicology samples taken from Benfield at the time of the crash. The Tennessee Highway Patrol said the normal turnaround time for the alcohol portion of a blood test submitted to the TBI is 4-6 weeks. The drug portion takes another 3-5 weeks after that. "It will take some time to be ready," Sgt. Matt Blankenship of the Tennessee Highway Patrol told the Johnson City Press.