Rueben Bain car crash details: What to know about fatal 2024 accident involving Miami star

Teams in need of a pass-rusher in this year's NFL Draft have come to the right place. From Rueben Bain and David Bailey to Keldric Faulk, Akheem Mesidor and more, there is a combination of high-level talent and depth at the position that gives every team a chance to add an impact player.

Not every team will have a chance to select Bain. The Miami star was one of college football's most disruptive forces in 2025, recording 15.5 tackles for loss and helping power the Hurricanes to the national championship game.

In the lead-up to the draft, however, some concerns have followed Bain. Questions about his arm length culminated in a surprisingly underwhelming measurement at the NFL Combine, and word later leaked of a fatal 2024 crash involving Bain that initially resulted in charges.

While reports indicate the information wasn't new or particularly significant to most teams, the news caught most fans by surprise.

Here's what you need to know about the fatal crash involving Bain.

MORE 2026 NFL DRAFT:

• Complete 7-round mock draft
• Trade predictions for the first round
• Where will each quarterback go in 2026 draft?

Rueben Bain 2024 car accident

According to The Read Optional, citing a police report, Bain was driving on Interstate 95 in Miami close to 4 a.m. ET on March 17, 2024 when he hit another car and subsequently hit concrete barriers on both sides of the parkway. Bain was one of five individuals in the car at the time. One, Destiny Betts, never regained consciousness and died nearly three months later. 

Two other passengers were then-teammates of Bain: Wesley Bissainthe and Nyjalik Kelly.

After the crash, Bain was cited for careless driving. The police report claimed Bain "operated his vehicle in a careless or negligent manner," resulting in the crash, but the charge was dismissed two weeks before Betts died. 

While some wondered whether the incident would impact Bain's draft stock, CBS Sports' Jonathan Jones reported that teams he spoke to were already aware of the crash and considered the matter "handled." Other reports echoed the same sentiment, though The Read Optional claimed to have spoken to one executive who felt Bain had not been transparent when asked about the crash.

The entire police report can be accessed through The Read Optional's original report, which is found here.

NFL DRAFT RANKINGS 2026: QBs | WRs | TEs | EDGE | RBs

Was Rueben Bain driving the car?

Bain was driving the car at the time of the crash. He was the only individual in the car who was charged, though that charge of careless driving was later dropped.

Bain was one of three uninjured individuals in the car. Two passengers were taken to the hospital, and Betts did not survive her injuries. 

Who is Destiny Betts?

Betts was a 22-year-old college student from Georgia at the time of her death. She was visiting Miami for spring break when she was fatally injured in the accident, according to reports.

While little else is known about Betts' life, she spent nearly three months in a coma before succumbing to her injuries on June 13, 2024. 

The Betts family released a statement in the aftermath of The Read Optional's report, saying they "wish Mr. Bain the best" as he enters the NFL.

"Destiny’s passing was the result of a tragic accident that occurred several years ago. While the loss remains incredibly painful for our family, we have worked hard to find peace and move forward," the family said. "At this time, we are not seeking public attention surrounding this tragedy and respectfully request that our family’s privacy be honored. We also wish Mr. Bain the best as he continues his life and career."