Miami Star Rueben Bain’s Fatal Crash Case Resurfaces Weeks Before NFL Draft

Miami edge Rueben Bain Jr. was involved in a car accident that caused the death of a 22 year old college student in 2024.

Miami Star Rueben Bain’s Fatal Crash Case Resurfaces Weeks Before NFL Draft

Miami edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. (Image via IMAGO)

In Short
  • Rueben Bain Jr. was involved in a fatal car accident in March 2024, resulting in the death of a passenger.
  • The incident has raised concerns about Bain's draft stock ahead of the upcoming NFL draft.
  • Multiple NFL teams are monitoring Bain's situation, drawing comparisons to Laremy Tunsil's draft day slip.

It’s not looking good for Rueben Bain Jr. The projected top 10 pick may risk sliding in the upcoming NFL draft due to a two-year-old incident.

Bain is an excellent pass rusher. The University of Miami player earned ACC top defensive player twice during his time in college, and also represented the Hurricanes in the national title game.

Sure, Miami lost to the dark horse of the tournament, Indiana, but Bain’s performance convinced the scouts that he is destined to be a future NFL star. ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. sees the Kansas City Chiefs taking Bain in the top 10.

After trading [Trent] McDuffie and losing Jaylen Watson in free agency, cornerback need some repairs. LSU’s Mansoor Delane and Tennessee [Volunteers] Jermod McCoy have to be considered here. But remember, the Chiefs now have two first-round picks. And Bain would be very tough to pass up at this spot.

Kiper wrote in March

However, a report from Oliver Connolly of The Read Optional has thrown Bain’s future into question. Connolly reported that the 21-year-old Bain was involved in a car accident in Miami back in March 2024. This information could create problems for Bain.

Miami edge Rueben Bain Jr. was involved in a car accident in March 2024

According to Connolly, Bain, a then-sophomore at the University of Miami, was driving on Interstate 95 in Miami around 4 a.m. on March 17, 2024, when his vehicle hit another car before smashing into concrete barriers on both sides of the highway.

Miami Star Rueben Bain's Fatal Crash Case Resurfaces Weeks Before NFL Draft After New Details Emerge
Miami edge Rueben Bain Jr. tackles Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza during the 2025-26 CFP Final (Image via IMAGO)

The police crash records revealed that five people were inside Bain’s car at the time of the accident. One of the passengers, a 22-year-old college student from Georgia named Destiny Betts, suffered severe injuries due to the impact. Betts was rushed to the nearby Ryder Trauma Center. She slipped into a coma and later died on June 13, 2024.

A second passenger was also admitted to the hospital. The remaining two passengers reportedly were Bain’s teammates at Miami, linebacker Wesley Bissainthe and Nyjalik Kelly. Bissainthe and Kelly later transferred to the University of Central Florida and are eligible for the 2026 draft.

Was Rueben Bain Jr. tried in court?

The police records indicate that Bain’s careless driving caused the car to deviate from the course. As a result, the car hit one side of the concrete wall and then rebounded to the second before coming to a standstill. The police did not check him for DUI, and the case was dismissed two weeks before Betts died in her sleep.

Multiple league sources confirmed that they are aware of Bain’s past and are keeping an eye on the situation. Some are calling it the second coming of Laremy Tunsil. Back in 2016, Tunsil was viewed as the number one pick. However, one night before that, hackers unearthed videos of Tunsil smoking through a gas mask and lobbying his coaches for payments.

Tunsil slipped to 13, ending up with the Miami Dolphins. Since then, the 31-year-old has earned 5 Pro Bowl nods and currently plays for the Washington Commanders.

Bain’s future is very uncertain. If NFL teams decide to black-mark him, he could go from making a few million dollars a year to a few thousand dollars.

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