Professional boxer Hannah Rapp, 26, died Saturday in Brazos County, Texas, after being struck by a vehicle while cycling on FM 159. Authorities have arrested 31-year-old Charles Medina, charging him with manslaughter. Investigators report the incident followed an altercation between the driver and the cyclist’s companion.
The Fatal Incident on FM 159
The collision occurred Saturday morning as Hannah Rapp, a rising featherweight professional boxer, was riding her bicycle alongside her boyfriend, Will Pollalis. Pollalis reportedly shouted at the driver and raised his hands to protest the proximity of the pass.
The situation escalated immediately after the interaction. Law enforcement officials stated that Medina, a man with an extensive criminal record, reacted to the confrontation by stopping his vehicle, shifting into reverse, and striking the cyclist. The Brazos County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that investigators learned the driver had passed two cyclists before stopping, reversing, and hitting one of them.
While Medina claimed to authorities that he intended to stop and talk to the cyclist under the impression he was being hailed, investigators found the physical evidence contradicted this narrative. Reports indicate that the damage to the vehicle—which included a shattered rear window and a crushed rear hatch—combined with skid marks on the road, pointed to a heavy impact collision rather than a slow-speed reversal.
Legal Status and Criminal History of Charles Medina
Following the collision, emergency responders transported Rapp to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Medina was subsequently arrested and booked into the Brazos County Detention Center on a charge of manslaughter. As of Monday, he was being held on a $250,000 bond.
Public records reveal that this is not Medina’s first encounter with the justice system. According to jail records obtained by regional news outlets, he has been arrested 13 times in Brazos County since 2012. His prior history includes a variety of charges, ranging from assault and hit-and-run to theft, deadly conduct, and possession of a controlled substance.
Remembering a Rising Athletic Career
Rapp, 26, was a well-regarded figure in the boxing community who had recently transitioned to professional fighting in 2024. Before her career in the ring, she was a track athlete at Purdue University. At the time of her death, she was balancing her professional boxing training at the Bryan College Station Boxing Gym with a full-time position as a fire and life safety inspector at Texas A&M.
Her professional trajectory had been sharp. Last month, she challenged Tiara Brown for the WBC women’s featherweight championship. Though she lost the bout by unanimous decision, it remained the only defeat in her 8-0-1 professional record.
Her coach, Carl Perry, expressed the profound impact she had on those around her, noting her resilience and infectious positivity. If there truly are angels on Earth, she was one of them,
Perry told reporters. A community fundraiser established to assist her family has already surpassed $20,000 in donations, reflecting the impact she had on her peers in both Indiana and Texas.
As the investigation remains active, a memorial continues to grow outside the gym where she trained, with plans for a candlelit vigil to honor her life in the coming days. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the volatility of road interactions, as authorities continue to process the evidence surrounding the final moments of an athlete many believed was on her way to becoming a hall of famer.
Sources: KTLA.
Sources: Nypost.
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