Details of fatal May accident involving Iowa basketball coach’s son detailed during bench trial

Editor's Note: A previous version of this story misidentified the prosecution as the side that had waived its right to have the verdict read in open court. That waiver is the right of the defendant.

A bench trial for a highly-regarded 17-year-old basketball recruit involved in a fatal spring collision spanned nearly three hours Tuesday at the Johnson County Courthouse and concluded without a verdict.

Jonathan “Jack” McCaffery, an Iowa City West High student, was charged with failure to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk following a fatal collision May 22 along Melrose Avenue in Iowa City. The McCaffery family, through a statement from their family lawyer a few weeks after the collision, contend the accident was "unavoidable" and that another driver had waved the victim through the crosswalk.

McCaffery admitted through his lawyers that he was the driver of a 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe traveling westbound on Melrose Avenue when he struck 45-year-old Corey Hite, who later passed away from injuries sustained in the accident. McCaffery also admitted that the voice heard on the 911 call at the scene was his.

McCaffery waived his right to physically appear in court on Tuesday in exchange for those concessions, as requested by the prosecution.

Members of the Hite family sat silently in the courtroom on Wednesday afternoon, the only spectators in addition to various media representatives, as the state called six witnesses and the defense called just one into the quaint, west-facing courtroom.

More: Teen driver cited in Iowa City traffic crash that led to death of Iowa National Guard soldier

Judge Mark Neary heard from five civilians and two Iowa City police officers. All were fiercely questioned about their whereabouts and details specific to the scene.

The defense waived its right to have the verdict announced by the judge in an open court at a later date, allowing the judge to file his verdict electronically. It was unclear when the verdict would be published in the online court system.

Authorities initially did not reveal either party involved in the collision, noting only that an accident resulting in "serious injuries" had occurred.

Iowa City police later identified Hite as the pedestrian involved on June 5, a day after he died, but withheld information on the driver, citing an "ongoing investigation."

“It is our duty and responsibility to conduct thorough investigations and thorough investigations — particularly those involving a death — take time,” Iowa City public safety information officer Lee Hermiston wrote in an email to the Press-Citizen on Wednesday. “We do not identify those involved in an investigation unless that person has been charged.”

Police cited Jack McCaffery after consulting with the Johnson County Attorney's Office, according to the release from police. He was charged with a simple misdemeanor punishable by a $1,000 fine, a driver’s license suspension of up to 180 days, or both.

Contentious closing arguments hinge on judge's interpretation

Closing arguments centered on the specific wording in the legislation for failure to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk, especially from the defense, which argued that the letter of the law means it was no more than an "unfortunate accident."

Both sides argued for a "common sense" decision.

The prosecution argued that there were plenty of indications to yield to any pedestrians in the crosswalk and “the defendant failed to do so.”

Body camera footage shown during the trial revealed McCaffery saying he was going “full speed,” a term fiercely contended by each side throughout the afternoon.

While McCaffery’s lawyers argued he meant to say "speed limit" and had a slip of the tongue, the state’s lawyers contended he admitted to having not slowed down near the crosswalk.

State hears witness testimony, views police body cam footage

The prosecution, led by assistant county attorney Jacob Behnke, helped set the scene of the May 22 collision through its six witnesses, from an emotional mailwoman close to the scene to a pair of police officers who responded and worked the case.

The state’s three on-scene witnesses described a small line of cars that had stopped briefly in the right, westbound lane on Melrose Avenue. The driver at the front of that line, identified as a woman not present in court Tuesday, had allegedly waved to Hite as he jogged in place, as if telling him to cross.

Lynn Wright was the closest witness to the scene at the time of the incident, as the longtime mail carrier was in her mail truck on Melrose toward Camp Cardinal Boulevard, a route that takes her back to the post office.

She was emotional on the stand, saying that Hite had been waved across the street but appeared to have not checked for cars in the left lane.

Wright testified that McCaffery hit his brakes around the same time his vehicle collided with Hite.

“I saw it slowed down a tiny bit,” Wright said, responding to a question about the Hyundai Santa Fe driven by McCaffery. “He hit the brakes when hitting the guy but it was too late.”

Body camera footage confirmed McCaffery at the scene, first with another witness, Cherie White, who stayed with the teenager before his parents, including men’s basketball coach Fran McCaffery, arrived.

“He just came out in front of me,” McCaffery told officer Ryan Schnackel in body camera footage at the scene. “I didn’t really have a chance to stop.”

On-scene investigator takes witness stand

The state also focused on signage and warning signs near Melrose Avenue and Kennedy Parkway, bringing in Kent Ralston, executive director of the Metropolitan Planning Organization of Johnson County, responsible for planning and implementing many of the street signs throughout town, including at pedestrian crosswalks.

He was asked about signage along Melrose, which he familiarized himself with before his testimony. He said advanced warning signage, like the seven-foot-tall sign near the westbound lane warning of a crosswalk, has been there for more than 20 years.

Photo exhibits from the defense team explored damage to McCaffery's vehicle, which was severe in the front, depicting an extremely damaged hood and shattered windshield.

Schnackel examined the vehicle for specific indicators, such as when airbags were deployed. He estimated the car had traveled about 80-feet beyond the crosswalk after the collision before coming to a rest.

Defense argues teen driver, runner never saw each other

Wright’s mail truck and the car in front of her, identified in testimony as an SUV, was a key piece of the argument made by McCaffery’s attorneys, led by Joseph Moreland, on Tuesday.

Cross-examination focused on the mail truck and its large, potentially obstructive size. Schnackel, who is a certified technical investigator, testified at length during Tuesday’s trial about his investigation, which concluded the mail truck was 7-foot-tall, which he said was taller than most vehicles.

Another witness, Jonathan Brentner, was driving to a haircut in the right westbound lane on Melrose and confirmed the mail truck obstructed his view of the jogger as he began crossing the street.

“I hope he’s not going,” Brentner admitted telling himself in court before checking his mirror and noticing McCaffery's Santa Fe in the left lane.

White, the state’s witness, was subject to considerable cross-examination after spending significant time with McCaffery on scene.

“I don’t know if there was anything he could have done to prevent the accident,” White said in court. She also testified she had said the same thing to McCaffery on May 22.

White, who works as a mental health advocate in Johnson County, rendered initial care to Hite at the scene and asked McCaffery to help, which she said he did.

Hite described as a dedicated Iowa Army National Guard soldier

Hite passed away nearly two weeks after the accident. His funeral was held June 12 in Cedar Rapids.

He was married to his wife for 22 years, and they had four children. Hite graduated from Marion High School and later obtained a bachelor’s degree in sociology as well as a master’s in education. He enjoyed jogging, bowling, video games, and reading, according to his memorial page.

Hite served 27 years in the Iowa Army National Guard, “focusing on improving diversity, equal opportunity, inclusion, and harassment prevention,” according to the memorial page.

McCaffery is highly-ranked basketball recruit

Jack McCaffery, listed as a 6'8" forward, was a sophomore star for the Iowa City Trojans last winter.

Jack McCaffery revealed last month he would like to play college basketball outside of Iowa City, his hometown. He is rated as a four-star recruit by ESPN, the 58th-best prospect in the Class of 2025 and the top talent in the state of Iowa.

McCaffery averaged 16 points, 7.4 rebounds and 3.9 blocks per game last season. The Trojans finished 12-11 overall, falling in the second round of the Class 4A playoffs to Ankeny Centennial.

Judge Neary’s decision is expected as soon as later this week and will be published online in the court system.

Ryan Hansen covers local government and crime for the Press-Citizen. He can be reached at rhansen@press-citizen.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @ryanhansen01.

This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: Jack McCaffery trial begins as police, witnesses recall May accident