On the afternoon of Saturday, November 2, young Connor Barba was on his way to the “Monday Night Football” game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Kansas City Chiefs after his mother gifted him tickets for his birthday.
Just minutes before reaching Kansas, the young Buccaneers fan was involved in a car accident that cost him his life at the age of 18. His mother, Megan Barnett, who was with him, was seriously injured but survived the impact.
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The police reported that a 2014 Chevy Camaro veered into the opposite lane of a two-lane road and collided head-on with the car driven by Connor and his mother Megan. The other driver, Joseph Savage, from Coffeyville, Kansas, also lost his life in the crash.
The family shared that Barnett gave the tickets to her son Connor so he could see his favorite player, Baker Mayfield, the former Oklahoma Sooners star, play in person.
Connor’s heroism saved his mother
Collin Barnett, Connor Barba’s uncle, spoke with the television program “Good Morning America” and shared his nephew’s passion for football and for Mayfield.
“He was a football fan in general and a big-time Baker fan. He wanted to see Baker play. …”
Connor’s uncle also acknowledged his nephew’s bravery, as while driving, he made a maneuver to avoid the car driven by Savage, which was coming from the opposite direction. This move saved his mother’s life.
“We were told that the (other car) was in Connor’s lane, and Connor swerved, that he hit the brakes tremendously hard and got Megan out of the way,” Collin Barnett said. “He took the full impact and was kind of heroic in that.”
Mayfield sends his condolences to the family of Connor Barba
Mayfield sent a message of strength to Connor’s family and to his mother, who is currently hospitalized.
“My thoughts and prayers go out to Megan and her family as they deal with this heartbreaking loss,” Mayfield said in a statement. “I am honored and humbled knowing that Connor was such a big fan. I would have loved to have met him. As a new parent, this really hits home for me.
He also expressed feeling honored by Barba’s admiration and said that he would have loved to have met him. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have made a donation to the family that was involved in a car accident.
“I realize there are no words that can provide true comfort at a time such as this, but I hope that Megan makes a full recovery and that she draws strength from the outpouring of support she is receiving from around the country.”
