A 2026 NFL draft hopeful was cited for a car accident that tragically took the life of a 22-year-old in 2024, and teams are worried more information might come out.
Top NFL draft prospect Rueben Bain has been connected to a tragic car accident that sadly left a 22-year-old student dead. The 2026 NFL draft will take place in Pittsburgh from April 23–25, where 32 teams will pick a total of 257 players over seven rounds.
Bain, 21, is highly rated and expected to be a top-10 pick after a strong college career as a defensive end for the Miami Hurricanes. But before the draft, it came out that Bain was involved in a car crash in 2024, which led to a passenger’s death.
According to documents from The Read Optional, the accident happened on March 17, 2024, when Bain was a sophomore at the University of Miami. He was driving on Interstate 95 around 4 a.m. when his car hit another vehicle and then concrete barriers.
Destiny Betts, 22, was one of four passengers in the car. She was visiting Miami from Georgia on spring break. She was badly hurt in the crash and taken to the Ryder Trauma Center, but unfortunately never woke up and passed away three months later, on June 13, 2024.
Another passenger was hurt and hospitalized, while Bain’s teammates Wesley Bissainthe and Nyjalik Kelly, who are also NFL draft prospects, were not injured. The police report said Bain “operated his vehicle in a careless or negligent manner.” He wasn’t given a field sobriety test, but was charged with careless driving. Those charges were dropped about two weeks before Betts passed away.
Betts’ family described the crash as a “tragic accident” in a statement to The Read Optional. They asked for privacy but said they “wish Mr. Bain the best as he continues his life and career.”
It’s still unclear if the accident will affect Bain’s draft spot. NFL sources told The Read Optional they know about the incident and are looking into it. “It doesn’t feel like [Bain] has been fully open with us,” one source said. Another added, “We’re worried about several incidents and waiting to see what happens next.”
A report from OutKick also says Bain was cited again for careless driving in 2025, but that case was dismissed due to a “defective citation.”