A Texas high school baseball player and his parents died after being hit by an 18-wheeler on their way to a game.
On Tuesday, April 1, the Rogers Independent School District announced the deaths of 16-year-old high school junior Connor McCaffety and his parents, Meghan and Clint, via Facebook.
“It is with overwhelming sadness that I share the tragic loss of Connor McCaffety, a junior at Rogers ISD,” Superintendent Duana Brashear wrote. “On Monday, March 31st, Connor and his family were involved in a tragic accident on HWY 36 in Milano.” Connor, his mother Meghan, and his father Clint died in the accident. “Our hearts go out to everyone who is mourning this loss.”
Brashear told CBS affiliate KWTX that the family was leaving Connor’s high school golf tournament in Brenham and heading to a baseball game in Rogers on Monday.
According to an email sent to PEOPLE on Thursday, April 3, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) stated that Clint McCaffety, 43, was driving a Ford sedan in the westbound traffic lane when he was stopped by a flagger for construction.
According to the department, a 45-year-old female drove a 2015 Kia SUV that came to a stop behind the Ford.
later, “a 2025 Freightliner truck tractor, operated by a 26-year-old male from Bellmead, Texas, was approaching the two stopped vehicles,” according to the law enforcement agency.
“For unknown reasons, the driver of the truck tractor semi-trailer lost control of speed and collided with the two vehicles. The Kia got pushed into the ditch and rolled over.
The DPS stated that Clint died as a result of the collision, and that his two passengers, wife Meghan, 39, and a 16-year-old later identified as his son Conor, were pronounced dead at the scene.
The Kia driver was taken to a hospital for treatment, authorities said.
The DPS confirmed to PEOPLE that the crash investigation is still ongoing.
According to CBS affiliate KBTX, the family is left with a 14-year-old daughter who was not in the car at the time of the crash.
Brashear stated in the Rogers ISD Facebook post that support for students and staff will continue in the days and weeks following the tragedy, and that counselors will be available on-site at all campuses.
Please keep this family in your prayers. “Love each other,” Brashear’s statement concluded.
In a Facebook post, Connor’s GPS Legends Baseball expressed their condolences.
“It is with extremely heavy hearts that we mourn the passing of beloved GPS family members Connor, Clint & Meghan McCaffety,” according to the team. “A truly incredible family, taken far too soon. Please keep younger sister Kelsey in your prayers. “Hold your loved ones tight.”
In an interview with KWTX, GPS Legends Baseball founder Brandon Puffer described Connor as a “fierce competitor.”
“When he wasn’t pitching, he was a great teammate and very kind.” And that came from his parents,” Puffer said, “what they were doing when they died, that’s what they did, they provided opportunities for their son and Kelsey.”
He told the outlet that Connor’s jersey will be hung in the dugout to honor him on game days.
