A 31-year-old driver faces a manslaughter charge after investigators say he reversed his vehicle into the 26-year-old athlete.
BRYAN, Texas — Professional boxer Hannah Rapp died after a driver allegedly stopped and reversed into her while she was cycling on a rural Brazos County road, authorities said. A man arrested after the July 18 collision has been charged with manslaughter.
Rapp, 26, was riding with another cyclist on Farm to Market Road 159 when Charles Eric Medina passed them in a vehicle, according to the Brazos County Sheriff’s Office and a probable cause affidavit described by local news organizations. Investigators allege Medina then stopped in the roadway, shifted into reverse and accelerated toward the cyclists, striking Rapp. She was taken to a hospital, where she died.
Deputies were dispatched shortly before 10 a.m. to the 23000 block of FM 159 after receiving a report of a major crash involving a vehicle and a bicyclist. Emergency crews treated Rapp at the scene before transporting her for further care. Medina, 31, of Navasota, was arrested without incident and booked into the Brazos County Detention Center, the sheriff’s office said.
Medina remained in custody Tuesday in lieu of a $250,000 bond, according to jail information cited by news organizations. The manslaughter charge is an allegation, and Medina has not been convicted. Information about an attorney representing him was not immediately available in the reports reviewed for this article.
The probable cause affidavit says Medina drove past Rapp and her companion at a high rate of speed and with little room between the vehicle and the bicycles. The other cyclist reacted to the close pass, investigators said. Medina allegedly stopped farther along the road before reversing and hitting Rapp.
Investigators said Medina told authorities that he was attempting to stop after believing the cyclists wanted his attention and that he did not see Rapp behind his vehicle. The affidavit says physical evidence, including tire marks and damage to the vehicle, did not support parts of that account. Those findings form part of the allegation against him and will be subject to review in the criminal case.
The sheriff’s office has described the death as an isolated incident and said the investigation remains active. The agency has not formally classified the case as road rage, according to a statement provided to The Guardian. That phrase has appeared in several published reports, but authorities have not announced a finding about Medina’s motive.
Rapp, known in the ring as “Hanarchy,” had quickly risen through the professional boxing ranks. She entered a June 13 featherweight title fight against World Boxing Council champion Tiara Brown with an 8-0-1 record and five knockouts. Brown retained the championship by unanimous decision, giving Rapp her first professional loss.
The title bout in Orlando, Florida, had been the biggest opportunity of Rapp’s boxing career. The World Boxing Council had ranked her among its leading women’s featherweight contenders, and promotional materials described her as a skilled fighter with power, technique and strong footwork.
Rapp was originally from Yorktown, Indiana, and graduated from Purdue University in 2022. She later moved to Texas, where she pursued professional boxing while working as a fire and life safety inspector at Texas A&M University, according to reports about her life and career.
Her death prompted tributes from fellow fighters, coaches, cycling groups and boxing organizations. The World Boxing Council and members of the North American Boxing Federation remembered her dedication and presence in the sport. Her gym and promotional team also expressed grief over the loss of an athlete whose career had been gaining national attention.
The investigation and manslaughter case remained pending Wednesday. Authorities had not announced additional charges or released a final finding about what led Medina to stop and reverse on FM 159.
Author note: Last updated July 22, 2026.