Jonathan “Jack” McCaffery Car Accident – The fatal traffic accident that occurred in Iowa City involved a 16-year-old driver named Jonathan “Jack” McCaffery, who was cited by the police for failing to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk. The accident took place on May 22 and resulted in the death of 45-year-old Corey Hite, a National Guard soldier from Cedar Rapids. McCaffery, the son of University of Iowa men’s basketball coach Fran McCaffery, was driving a 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe when he struck Hite at a crosswalk near the intersection of Melrose Avenue and Kennedy Parkway.
According to the McCaffery family, they believe the accident was unavoidable and that another driver had waved the victim through the crosswalk. They stated that their son was not driving distractedly, and investigators have found no evidence to suggest otherwise. Corey Hite, who was jogging at the time, passed away two weeks after the accident due to the injuries sustained.
Iowa City police issued a citation to Jack McCaffery after consulting with the Johnson County Attorney’s Office. He was charged with a simple misdemeanor, which carries a punishment of a $1,000 fine, a driver’s license suspension of up to 180 days, or both. Initially, the police did not disclose the identities of the parties involved, citing an ongoing investigation.
The posted speed limit in the area where the accident occurred was 35 mph on Melrose Avenue and 25 mph on Kennedy Parkway. Hite, described as a dedicated Iowa Army National Guard soldier, was on a run before the accident. A GoFundMe page was set up to support his family, raising over $8,000 at the time.
Corey Hite’s funeral was held on June 12 in Cedar Rapids. He served in the Iowa Army National Guard for 27 years, focusing on issues such as diversity, equal opportunity, inclusion, and harassment prevention. Hite was married for 22 years and had four children. He was remembered for his love of jogging, bowling, video games, and reading.
As for Jack McCaffery, he is a highly sought-after high school basketball recruit. He recently completed his sophomore year at Iowa City West, where he plays as a 6’8″ forward. McCaffery expressed his desire to play college basketball outside of Iowa City and is ranked as a four-star recruit by ESPN. He is considered the top talent in the state of Iowa for the Class of 2025.
Jack McCaffery is scheduled to appear at the Johnson County Courthouse on July 24. The details of the court appearance are not specified in the provided information.
