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Rueben Bain Jr., a top 10 prospect in the upcoming NFL Draft, was driving in a previously unreported crash in March 2024 in which one of his passengers was hospitalized and pronounced dead three months later, according to an accident report and court records obtained by OutKick.
The prominent Miami racer was cited at the scene by the Florida Highway Patrol for operating a motor vehicle in a “careless or negligent manner.” The charge was later dismissed due to a “defective citation,” after Bain Jr. pleaded not guilty, according to court records.
The accident report indicates Bain Jr. did not display any impairment, was not suspected of alcohol or drug use, and no tests were performed at the time.
Rueben Bain Jr. was driving in a previously unreported crash in March 2024 in which one of his passengers was hospitalized and pronounced dead three months later, according to an accident report and court records obtained by OutKick. (CFP/Getty Images)
Three NFL teams told OutKick’s Armando Salguero over the weekend that they are aware of the accident, but no team would comment on how much the incident would affect the first-team All-American defensive end’s status for the April 23-25 NFL Draft.
News of the first accident was first reported by Oliver Connolly.
OutKick has reached out to Bain Jr., the University of Miami, and the Florida State Attorney’s office, but has yet to receive comment from any of them.
Rueben Bain Jr of the Miami (FL) Hurricanes speaks to the media during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 25, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (ustin Casterline/Getty Images)
The incident occurred on March 17, 2024, when Bain Jr. was driving on Interstate 95 in South Florida shortly after 4 a.m. and rear-ended another vehicle. That collision sent Bain Jr.’s vehicle, a 2021 Land Rover registered to a corporation called Miami Sports 27, into the concrete wall on the east side of the road, and then across the entire multi-lane road to the concrete wall on the west side, according to the accident report.
Miami Sports 27 is a nonprofit company owned by Eric Dounn, an agent who also works with LAA Management, which also has ties to an Ebay souvenir shop.
To read the full bug report, click the link.
The Florida Highway Patrol was dispatched at 4:17 a.m. and once a trooper arrived at the scene, they found 22-year-old Destiny Betts, who was riding in a passenger seat without a seat belt, disabled, according to the accident report. Betts was transported to Ryder Trauma Center by the Miami-Dade Fire Department.
According to a GoFundMe set up by a family member, Betts lost consciousness as a result of the accident. A note in the accident report indicated that Betts was pronounced dead three months later, on June 13, 2024, by a nurse at Northshore Hospice.
The report does not specify an official cause of death.
OutKick reached out to the attorney for Destiny Betts’ family and received the following statement, which indicates that they are not open to answering questions about the circumstances of the accident and what happened afterward.
“As his family, we remain deeply committed to honoring his memory in a meaningful and appropriate way. 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. At this time, we are not seeking public attention around this tragedy and respectfully request that our family’s privacy be respected. We also wish Mr. Bain the best as he continues his life and career. Thank you for respecting our wishes during this difficult time. issue.”
Miami Hurricanes football players Nyjalik Kelly and Wesley Bissainthe and another passenger named LaDreama Roberts were also in the vehicle at the time of the crash. All three were listed with possible injuries, but only the female passenger was taken to a hospital, according to the FHP report.
OutKick reached out to all three but did not receive a response at the time of publication.
Both Bissainthe and Kelly, who finished his college career at UCF, are also eligible for the upcoming NFL Draft, although neither of them are expected to be selected as high as Bain.
In addition to the March 2024 accident, court records show that Bain Jr. received a citation on October 10, 2025, driving a 2025 Tesla Cybertruck, in which he was again cited for negligent driving. The citation, shown below, lists a violation of Florida Statute 316.1925(1), which is reckless driving.
OutKick has asked who owned the Tesla, but has not yet received that information.
Records indicate there was an “accident indicator” that came with the charge, meaning he was involved in an accident, as the citation states. That case was dismissed in February of this year, also for a “faulty citation.”
Rueben Bain Jr. (4) of the Miami Hurricanes participates in the 2026 Miami Pro Day at the Carol Soffer Indoor Practice Facility on March 23, 2026 in Coral Gables, Florida. (Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
Bain would finish the season with Miami as one of the best defensive players in college football, helping lead the Hurricanes to the CFP title game, where they lost to Indiana.
The NFL Draft will be held in Pittsburgh next week.
OutKick contacted the Florida Highway Patrol for comment on what led to the citations being dismissed. OutKick also reached out to the University of Miami for comment on whether it was aware of any of the incidents. Neither has responded at the time of this article’s publication.
