By: Robert Craft

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

University of Miami defensive lineman Rueben Bain Jr. was the driver during a traffic collision in the early hours of March 17, 2024, that resulted in one of the passengers, 22-year-old Destiny Betts, being severely injured, according to court documents.

Destiny Betts, who was one of four passengers, was not wearing a seatbelt, according to the crash report, and died from her injuries nearly three months later, on June 13, 2024.

Bain was issued a citation for careless driving, with police saying that he “operated his vehicle in a careless or negligent manner.” No field sobriety test was conducted.

The citation would eventually be dismissed, with the reason listed as “defective citation,” and Bain was never charged in connection with the crash.

According to a diagram in the crash report, first obtained Interstate-95 has five regular lanes and an additional express lane. The report states that Bain, (driver) was traveling northbound in the outside center lane when the left front of his vehicle collided with the right rear of another car.

The collision resulted in Bain’s vehicle going through two lanes on the right and hitting the east concrete wall before going across the entire six-lane highway. It hit the west concrete wall, where the vehicle eventually came to a stop.

In October 2024, the driver of the collided car sued Bain on a count of motor vehicle negligence, alleging that the wreck caused him physical injury along with mental anguish.

Another driver voluntarily dismissed his case with prejudice in June. Court records also show a mediation session was scheduled for March, including counsel representing Bain,  Betts’ estate and an auto insurance company.

In a separate incident, Bain was issued another citation on Oct. 14, 2025, which indicated he was involved in another crash. The second citation was also dismissed due to a “defective citation.”

As with most prior legal situations, NFL teams will conduct their own investigations into the incident and make their own decisions based on all available information — including anything from law enforcement and whether or not Bain was up front about his incident during team interviews .

Bain is considered one of the top prospects in this year’s NFL Draft. Bain checks in at No. 9 overall and the third-best edge rusher, behind Ohio State’s Arvell Reese and Texas Tech’s David Bailey.

Despite his top-tier talent, questions have swirled around Bain leading up to the draft because of his arm length, which checks in at under 31 inches.

I’m curious on how the University of Miami has kept his driving history out of the media. With no field sobriety, test and lack of media, is this another prime example of an elite athlete getting away with crime?