Three Dead in Milam County Crash, Only Daughter Survives

MILAM COUNTY, Texas (KBTX) — A tragic multi-vehicle crash on Monday evening claimed the lives of three members of the McCaffety family, while their 14-year-old daughter survived. The incident occurred around 4:40 p.m. on Highway 36 near the Milam-Burleson County line as the family was en route to a baseball game following a golf tournament in Brenham.

Authorities from the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) reported that the family, consisting of Clint McCaffety, 43; Meghan McCaffety, 39; and their son Connor, 16, was struck by an 18-wheeler while stopped in a construction zone. The truck, driven by a 26-year-old man, failed to control its speed and collided with their Ford sedan.

“There were temporarily stopped vehicles due to flagging at the construction zone,” said DPS Sergeant Bryan Washko. “The 18-wheeler struck two cars and unfortunately resulted in the loss of three lives.”

As a result of the impact, the 45-year-old driver of a Kia SUV, who was stopped behind the McCaffety vehicle, was also injured and was transported to a hospital, where she is expected to recover.

Superintendent Duana Brashear of the Rogers Independent School District expressed deep sorrow in a Facebook post on Tuesday morning. “It is with overwhelming sadness that I share the tragic loss of Connor McCaffety. Our entire district and the communities we serve are impacted by this loss,” she stated. “Connor was not only a talented athlete but also excelled in our Ag program; he was fantastic at everything.”

The McCaffety family was identified as leaving a golf tournament before heading to Connor’s baseball game when the fatal crash occurred. The Rogers School District has made additional counselors available to support students and staff mourning the loss.

The incident has left the local community in shock. “It’s tragic anytime anyone loses their life, especially in a situation where nearly an entire family is killed. Those are the ones that stick with you,” Washko added reflecting on his 27 years of experience in law enforcement.

DPS is continuing its investigation into the collision, and further details regarding why the truck driver failed to stop remain unclear. The highway was closed for approximately seven hours due to the crash.

In lieu of flowers, the McCaffety family is accepting donations to support the surviving daughter, Kelsey McCaffety, at Buckholts Bank in Rogers, Texas. Memorial services for the family have yet to be announced.