National Guard solider, Cedar Rapids father identified in fatal Iowa City car accident

'Paris Barraza
Iowa City Press-Citizen

National Guard solider, Cedar Rapids father identified in fatal Iowa City car accident
Paris Barraza
Iowa City Press-Citizen

A Cedar Rapids man struck by a yet-to-be-named driver near Iowa City West High School last month has died.

The man, who was out for a run, was identified as 45-year-old Corey J. Hite, Iowa City Police public safety information officer Lee Hermiston told the Press-Citizen in an email Monday morning.

Police confirmed a vehicle struck Hite around 4 p.m. May 22 near the intersection of Melrose Avenue and Kennedy Parkway, a half mile west of the Iowa City West High School. Kennedy Parkway heads north into a group of homes off of Melrose. The posted speed limit on Melrose in that area is 35 MPH. The posted speed limit on Kennedy Parkway is 25 MPH.

Iowa City Police has not revealed the driver's name, citing an ongoing investigation. Hermiston told the Press-Citizen that no charges had been filed in an email Monday afternoon.

“The crash remains under investigation and we are not releasing any additional information at this time,” Hermiston said.

The unnamed driver did not report any injuries, police said.

An email request by the Press-Citizen Friday, June 2 to view a physical copy of the accident report under rights supported by Iowa Code Chapter 22 was denied.

Hite was a National Guard soldier a few weeks from retirement, according to a GoFundMe page created on May 25. He was a father and a husband, according to the GoFundMe.

Corey Hite, organized by Sarah Latham

Hite was checked into extensive critical at the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics after the accident on May 22, according to a CaringBridge page.

He was “rushed to the hospital” for life-threatening injuries which included a skull fracture, a pelvic fracture and holes in a lung as well as a kidney, according to the CaringBridge site. Hite was also suffering from brain swelling.

A total of $4,430 had been donated to Hite’s GoFundMe page as of Monday afternoon.

The Cedar Rapids-based nonprofit Salute to the Fallen Foundation also raised money for Hite according to a Facebook post.

Brandon Hurley contributed to this article.

Paris Barraza covers entertainment, lifestyle and arts at the Iowa City Press-Citizen. Reach her at PBarraza@press-citizen.com or 319-519-9731. Follow her on Twitter @ParisBarraza

Son of Fran McCaffery cited in crash that killed National Guard member

by Iowa's News NowWed, July 12th 2023, 11:18 AM CDT

A high-profile Iowa City prep athlete has been cited in the May 22 crash that seriously injured an Iowa National Guard soldier who died from his injuries a few weeks later.

Corey J. Hite, 45, of Cedar Rapids was hit while running on Melrose Avenue and Kennedy Parkway.

On Wednesday, Jonathan J.F. McCaffery, who goes by Jack, was cited for failing to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk, a simple misdemeanor.

McCaffery is the son of Iowa head basketball coach Fran McCaffery and is an ESPN top-100 basketball recruit.

The punishment for a misdemeanor resulting in death, is punishable by $1,000 fine and a suspension of driver's license for up to 180 days.

Fran and his wife Margaret McCaffery said in a statement, investigators have told them the accident was "unavoidable" and that there was no evidence to suggest distracted driving.

The family said they are devastated by the tragedy.

Read their full statement below.

“On May 22nd, just after leaving school, our 16-year-old son was the driver in a vehicle/pedestrian accident. 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 jogger, Sgt. First Class Corey Hite, passed away two weeks after the accident from the injuries he sustained.

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."

SFC Corey John Hite, 45, of Cedar Rapids, died Sunday June 4, 2023, from complications from a car accident.

Memorial Services: 11:00 a.m. Monday June 12, 2023, at Cedar Memorial Chapel of Memories with full military honors. Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents.

Corey was born October 21, 1977, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the son of Bruce and Amy (Welbes) Hite.

He married Karinda Stone on May 3, 2001, in Marion, Iowa.

Corey graduated from Marion High School and a Bachelors in Sociology and a Master's in Education.

He was employed with the Iowa Army National Guard for 27 years. Where Corey focused on improving diversity, equal opportunity, inclusion and harassment prevention, which he was very passionate about.

Corey was a devoted husband, father and son. His hobbies included jogging, bowling, videogames and reading. But most of all, he enjoyed spending time with and caring for his family.

Memorials may be made to: Veterans of Iowa, in memory of Corey.

Iowa National Guard Soldier Corey Hite has died after being hit by a car on May 22 in Iowa City, according to a Caring Bridge page.

The Iowa National Guard confirmed SFC Corey Hite was hit by a car while he was out for a jog, KCRG reports. A GoFundMe for his family says he suffered life-threatening injuries, including brain swelling, multiple skull fractures, a broken pelvis, and holes in his lung and kidney. Another post said Hite was three weeks from retirement when the crash happened. An update on his Caring Bridge page said Hite died on Sunday.

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Oct 22 2023, 15:02:47 UTC