The teenage son of Iowa Men’s basketball coach Fran McCaffery could face just a $1,000 fine and a suspended license after he was identified as the driver in a crash that killed a National Guardsman out jogging.
Jonathan ‘Jack’ McCaffery, 16, was driving his grey 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe from school on May 22 when he struck Iowa Army National Guard Sgt. First Class Corey Hite shortly after 4 pm.
The crash left 45-year-old Hite, of Cedar Rapids, with life-threatening injuries including a pelvis fracture, multiple skull fractures and holes in his lung and kidney before his death on June 5.
McCaffery, who was identified as the driver in the crash on Wednesday, has been cited with Failure to Yield to a Pedestrian in a Crosswalk – a misdemeanor traffic violation resulting in death.
If found guilty, the minor faces a $1,000 fine and a suspension of his driver’s license for up to 180 days under Iowa law.
Fran McCaffery and his wife, Margaret, released a statement expressing their sympathies over the 27-year veteran’s death but claimed the crash was ‘unavoidable.’
McCaffery, 16, (right) son of basketball coach Fran McCaffery (center), has been issued a citation for a misdemeanor traffic violation resulting in the death of Iowa Army National Guard Sgt. First Class Hite on Monday
Corey J. Hite, 45, of Cedar Rapids was hit by Jonathan ‘Jack’ McCaffery, 16, while running on Melrose Avenue and Kennedy Parkway. He died of his injuries two weeks later
Hite was a 27 year veteran and was only three weeks away from retiring when he was struck by the car.
McCaffery in an incoming junior at Iowa City West High. He is the youngest son of basketball coach Fran McCaffery.
He was about a mile and a half away from Iowa City West High School at Melrose Avenue and Kennedy Parkway when the crash happened.
Standing at six-foot seven-inches, Jack is considered a ‘4-star’ basketball prospect. His older brothers also played basketball and went on to play for their father’s Iowa team.
McCaffery has served as head coach for the Hawekeys since 2010.
Fran McCaffery and his wife, Margaret McCaffery, authorized a press release via Joseph T. Moreland, attorney at Hayek, Moreland, Smith & Bergus, L.L.P. in Iowa City.
The family said they are devastated about the incident but claim the crash was ‘unavoidable’ in a statement released Wednesday.
‘On May 22nd, just after leaving school, our 16-year-old son was the driver in a vehicle/pedestrian accident,’ it read. ‘Investigators have told us that it was an unavoidable accident with no evidence to suggest distracted driving.’
‘The pedestrian, who was jogging at the time of the accident, was waved in front of our son’s passing vehicle by the driver of another vehicle,’ the statement continued. ‘The jogger, Sgt. First Class Corey Hite, passed away two weeks after the accident from the injuries he sustained.’
The family also expressed their deepest condolences to the family of Hite.
‘We are devastated by this tragedy. SFC Hite’s family has our deepest sympathies. While our family continues to process the events of the past weeks and help our son cope with this accident, we will have no further comment at this time.’
Hite’s family announced his death on Caring Bridge site in June and said they had met with doctors to discuss his injuries and chance of survival.
The family said Hite’s brain injuries affected parts of his brain that regulate basic life functions and believed it was unlikely he would ever be able to return to normal life, the site states.
“After much discussion, reflection, and prayer, the family made the very difficult decision to remove all lifesaving interventions that are keeping Corey alive,” the site states.
‘It is with great sadness that our beloved Corey has passed away and gained his wings today,’ his family wrote in June. ‘Please continue to keep Corey’s family in your thoughts and prayers as they say their final goodbyes.’
Hite was a dedicated man to his family, a loving father, and a devoted husband, according to his GoFundMe, that raised $8,372 of its $2,500 goal while Hite was still in the hospital.
He is survived by his wife of 22 years, Karinda; his children, James, Donnald, Jacob and Jasmine as well as his parents and brothers.
He graduated from Marion High School and a bachelor’s in sociology and a master’s in education.
Hite was also a Soldier in the National Guard and only weeks away from retiring when he was struck by the car.
He was employed with the Iowa Army National Guard for 27 years, where he focused on improving diversity, equal opportunity, inclusion and harassment prevention- something he was very passionate about.
His hobbies included jogging, bowling, videogames and reading. But most of all, he enjoyed spending time with and caring for his family, according to his obituary.
