University of Miami defensive lineman Rueben Bain Jr., a projected top-10 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, was involved in a March 2024 traffic crash in Miami that later proved fatal for a 22-year-old college student, according to a report by The Read Optional citing police records.
The crash occurred around 4 a.m. on March 17, 2024, on Interstate 95 in Miami, according to police records reviewed by the outlet. Bain, then a sophomore at the University of Miami, was driving when his vehicle struck another car before hitting concrete barriers on both sides of the highway.
Destiny Betts, one of four passengers in Bain’s car, sustained critical injuries and was transported to Ryder Trauma Center. She never regained consciousness and died on June 13, 2024.
Betts, a 22-year-old college student from Georgia, had been in Miami for spring break at the time of the crash, the report said.
A second passenger was injured and hospitalized. Two other University of Miami players, linebacker Wesley Bissainthe and Nyjalik Kelly, who later transferred to UCF, were also in the car. Both were teammates of Bain at Miami and are eligible for the 2026 NFL Draft.
The police crash report concluded that Bain was operating the vehicle in "a careless or negligent manner." He was cited for careless driving, though no field sobriety test was conducted at the scene. The charge was dismissed about two weeks before Betts’ death while she was still in a coma.
NFL responseLeague sources told the outlet they are aware of the incident and are continuing to review it.
