Tampa Bay Buccaneers Draft Rueben Bain Despite Fatal 2024 Car Crash: GM Licht's Statement on Tragic Incident

Earlier this month, a report surfaced regarding Rueben Bain’s involvement in a fatal vehicular collision that occurred in March 2024. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were not surprised by the revelation, as they had thoroughly investigated the University of Miami edge rusher before drafting him.

On Thursday, Tampa Bay selected Bain with the 15th overall pick in the NFL Draft.

"We've known about this for a long time. I know it just came out a couple of weeks ago," said Tampa Bay Buccaneers General Manager Jason Licht, via Jenna Laine of ESPN. "It was a very tragic accident, tragic experience for the family, and it's something you never want to see happen. But he's a good person. He was involved in something that none of us ever want to be involved in or want any of our loved ones to be involved in. But he loves football. He loves football."

The incident occurred at 4 a.m. on March 17, 2024, when Bain’s Land Rover SUV rear-ended another vehicle and subsequently crashed into concrete barriers on I-95 in Miami. One of his three passengers, 22-year-old Destiny Betts, remained in a coma for nearly three months before passing away.

At the time of the crash, Bain was cited, but charges were dropped prior to Betts’ death. The story gained public attention on April 12, when The Read Optional published an article featuring a statement from Betts’ family. They described the incident as a "tragic accident" and expressed their wishes for Bain’s future, stating, "We wish Mr. Bain the best as he continues his life and career."

Following the public revelation of the crash, Bain was asked about the emotional toll the past two weeks had taken on him.

"Yeah, you know everything has its ups and downs, but I just try to make everything as simple as it could possibly be," Bain said. "Try to prioritize whatever I prioritize in the moment. And right now, that's just football and making sure I can really make it as a main priority for me."

Bain, selected 15th overall, holds the distinction of being the highest-drafted edge rusher by the Buccaneers since Jason Licht became General Manager in 2014.