The family was on their way to a baseball game when their vehicle was hit by an 18-wheeler in a construction zone.

A tragic accident near Milano, Texas, on the night of Monday, March 31, claimed the lives of a high school athlete and his parents. Heartfelt condolences have poured in from the community, with many remembering the young athlete as both exceptional and kind.

Rogers High School, a small Central Texas school district, is mourning the loss of a beloved student-athlete, 16-year-old Connor McCaffety, and his parents, Clint and Meghan McCaffety, following a devastating crash.

“It is with overwhelming sadness that I share the tragic loss of Connor McCaffety, a junior at Rogers ISD. Our hearts go out to everyone that is grieving this loss. Our entire district, and the communities we serve, are impacted by this loss,” Rogers ISD Superintendent Duana Brashear announced in a Facebook post Tuesday morning, April 1.

The junior student, a standout athlete at Rogers ISD, Clint, 43, and his wife Meghan, 39 died after their vehicle was struck by an 18-wheeler in a construction zone near Milano, Texas. The tragic accident occurred as the family was returning from a golf tournament and heading to one of Connor’s baseball games.

The crash took place in the 6000 block of Highway 36, located on the Milam/Burleson County line. According to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), the McCaffety family was driving a Ford sedan when they stopped in a construction zone, where another vehicle, a Kia SUV, had also halted behind them.

Tragically, an 18-wheeler, driven by a 26-year-old man from Bellmead, was unable to stop in time for unknown reasons, striking both the Ford and the Kia. The Kia went into a ditch and the driver was taken to the hospital.

The McCaffety family’s tragic loss has left the local community and school district in shock. Superintendent Brashear has described Connor as not only a star athlete but also a talented participant in the school’s Agricultural program, adding that he was “pretty fantastic at everything.”

In the wake of the tragedy, additional counselors were made available at Rogers ISD to provide support to students and staff who are deeply affected. The school district and surrounding communities are left to grapple with the loss of a vibrant young life and two dedicated parents.

As the investigation into the crash continues, the Rogers community is united in its grief over the sudden loss of the McCaffety family.

The Milam County Livestock Auction has organized a special event on Friday, April 4, to help support Connor’s sister, Kelsey McCaffety, with all proceeds from the sale of a steer going directly to her. Kelsey is the only surviving child of Clint and Meghan. Hence, the community has come together to offer support her during this incredibly difficult time.

Tributes from loved ones, organizations, and friends have also poured in following the tragic deaths of Connor and his parents. One of Connor’s coach, Brandon Puffer, said he still struggles to accept that the family is gone.

Having trained Connor since his freshman year, Brandon formed a close bond with both the teen and his parents, describing them as incredibly kind and tight-knit. He remembered Connor as a “fierce competitor” and a “great teammate,” yet noted that off the field, he was gentle and thoughtful, qualities he also saw in Clint and Meghan.

What weighs heaviest, Brandon shared, is knowing that Kelsey has lost her entire immediate family in a single moment, her mother, father, and brother. Despite her unimaginable grief, she found the strength to reach out to Connor’s coaches, letting them know how much they meant to him. For Brandon, that gesture reinforced just how special the McCaffetys were.

Kelsey, he said, is now a part of their extended family, and their support for her will continue, not just in the coming days, but always. In honor of Connor, his jersey will hang on the bench for the remainder of the season, a small but meaningful tribute to a young man whose presence on and off the field left a lasting impact.

The Bell County Youth Fair and Livestock Show Rodeohave also paid tribute to the Mccaffety’s, penning, “We are deeply saddened by the heartbreaking loss of Connor McCaffety and his parents, Meghan & Clint McCaffety. Please keep the McCaffety family, friends, show family & Rogers community in your prayers.”

Additionally, Sports media outlet Five Tool has spoken out, reflecting on the fragility of life. They remembered Connor as “a truly talented ‘26 RHP/CIF out of Rogers (TX) who had a very bright future.”

The outlet noted that the last time they saw him was during their top 16U event, where he struck out eight batters in six innings and earned a “Pitcher of the Game” nomination. Their message also extended heartfelt condolences to Connor’s sister, extended family, friends, teammates, and the GPS Legends.

Sierra White, a friend of Meghan, also shared a heartfelt message, recalling how grateful she was to have reconnected with her while working at Oscar’s.

“I will always treasure the memories of you welcoming us at our table, responding to every Snapchat I post of my kids and telling me how precious they are, and the stone bronc rider you made that hangs in our home will always hold a special place in my heart. Heaven is definitely going to have the most beautifully decorated Christmas trees! 🎄❤️,” she wrote.

The sudden loss of Clint, Meghan, and Connor has left a deep void in the Rogers community and beyond. With only their daughter left behind, the tragedy is all the more heartbreaking. As tributes continue to surface, they serve as a reminder of just how much this family meant to those around them and how fragile life can be.