At least some NFL teams are aware of the car crash involving Reuben Bain Jr., a potential top-10 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, that left a woman in a coma and ultimately led to her death.
Multiple league executives confirmed to USA TODAY Sports that they were aware of reports that the former Miami Hurricanes defensive lineman was behind the wheel of the fatal crash.
One passenger, Destiny Betts, died from injuries sustained in the crash after being in a coma for several months, The Lead Option reported.
Documents obtained by The Read Optional detail Bane’s involvement in the incident for the first time. Mr Bain was charged with careless driving. No field sobriety tests were performed as per the read option. The charges were dropped before Betts’ death.
The accident occurred around 4 a.m. on March 17, 2024, while Bain was driving northbound on Interstate 95 in Miami. Betts and two other Hurricanes players, Wesley Bisign and Nijalik Kelly, were passengers. According to the accident report, Bain’s car rear-ended another car, swerved into a concrete barrier, bounced off another barrier and came to rest on the shoulder of the highway.
Betts was taken to a trauma center where he passed away on June 13, 2024. She was 22 years old.
Sports Illustrated reported that a lawsuit related to the incident has been settled in Miami.
“At this time, we are not seeking public attention regarding this tragedy and respectfully request that the family’s privacy be respected,” Betts’ family told Read Options in a statement. “We also wish Mr. Bain the best of luck in his future life and career.”
During the 2025 season, Bane became one of the most feared pass rushers in college football. He led the nation in quarterback pressures with 9.5 sacks and 15.5 tackles for loss as Miami advanced to the College Football Playoff Championship Game. Bane was a consensus top-10 prospect throughout the pre-draft process and was widely expected to be selected in the first half of the first round on April 23rd.
Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes told reporters Monday that the organization has known about the incident “for some time.”
“So nothing changes from our perspective,” he said.
