Former Miami DE Bain Was Behind the Wheel in Fatal 2024 Crash
This is heavy. According to a report published Sunday, Rueben Bain Jr., the star Miami defensive end and 2026 NFL draft prospect, was involved in a deadly car accident back in 2024. A passenger in his vehicle later died from injuries sustained in the crash. This is the kind of story that hits different when you're evaluating someone heading into the draft.
What Happened That Night
The accident went down around 4 a.m. on March 17, 2024, on Interstate 95 northbound in Miami. Bain was driving a 2021 Land Rover SUV with three other passengers inside: fellow Hurricanes football players Wesley Bissainthe and Nyjalik Kelly, plus a 22-year-old Georgia woman named Destiny Betts. According to the crash report, Bain's vehicle rear-ended another car, then veered into a concrete barrier. The SUV ricocheted off that barrier into another one before finally coming to rest on the highway shoulder.
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👉 Claim Your Free $10 at KalshiBetts was rushed to Ryder Trauma Center in Miami. She went into a coma for nearly three months before passing away from her injuries on June 13, 2024. At the time of the incident, Bain was cited for careless driving. No field sobriety tests were administered, according to the crash report. The charges were later dropped before Betts' death.
The Draft Picture and Family's Statement
Bain was a sophomore when the accident happened. Despite this tragedy, he's now ranked No. 15 on Mel Kiper Jr.'s latest Big Board heading into this month's NFL draft. As a junior in 2025, he put together a career season that helped push Miami all the way to the College Football Playoff championship game. He posted 9.5 sacks, 15.5 tackles for loss and five QB hurries while leading the entire country in QB pressures.
Betts' family released a statement calling the crash a "tragic accident" and said they "wish Mr. Bain the best as he continues his life and career." It's a statement that carries weight as scouts and teams now evaluate how to handle this in their draft process.
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