The teenage son of University of Iowa men's basketball coach Fran McCaffery has been cited for his involvement in a May 22nd car accident that resulted in the death of a National Guard soldier. The 16-year-old was cited for "failure to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk," a simple misdemeanor, according to the Iowa City Police Department. The victim, Sgt. First Class Corey J. Hite, 45, sustained severe injuries and passed away two weeks later.
Fran and Margaret McCaffery released a statement expressing their condolences and explaining the circumstances of the accident. They stated that their son was leaving school when the accident occurred and that investigators determined it to be unavoidable, with no indication of distracted driving. According to their statement, another driver waved Sgt. Hite across the street in front of their son's vehicle.
The McCaffery family expressed their deep sympathy for Sgt. Hite's family and stated they would have no further comment while they grieve and support their son. The citation was issued after an investigation and consultation with the Johnson County District Attorney's Office. The teen is scheduled to appear in court this month. Under Iowa law, this type of misdemeanor can result in a fine of up to $1,000, a driver's license suspension of up to 180 days, or both. The Johnson County District Attorney's Office has not yet commented on the case. Two of Fran McCaffery's other sons, Patrick and Connor, have also been part of the Iowa Hawkeyes basketball program.
