A tragic car crash has taken the life of 18-year-old Connor Barba from Norman, Oklahoma, who died while on a surprise trip to see the Kansas City Chiefs play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on November 2.
Connor’s mother, Megan Barnett, had shocked her son with tickets to the Monday Night Football game, celebrating his birthday with what was supposed to be a special outing.
However, as they were traveling in southeast Kansas, their journey took a heartbreaking turn.
According to a crash report from the Kansas Highway Patrol, a Chevrolet Camaro, traveling in the opposite direction, crossed into the northbound lane for an unknown reason and collided with the family’s vehicle.
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Connor tragically died at the scene of the crash. Megan, 41, was severely injured and remains in critical condition in the ICU at a Tulsa hospital.
The driver of the Camaro, 45-year-old Joseph Savage of Coffeyville, also died in the crash.
The crash took place on U.S. 169 near Cherryvale, Kansas, just before 4 p.m. Connor’s uncle, Colin Barnett, told local media that his nephew attempted to swerve and brake in an effort to avoid the collision, likely saving his mother’s life in the process.
“When Connor did that, he took the full brunt of the impact,” Barnett explained.
The unexpected tragedy has left the Oklahoma community reeling, with friends and family remembering Connor as a young man full of light, joy, and an unforgettable smile.
According to his uncle, Connor had been eagerly looking forward to watching quarterback Baker Mayfield play, while Megan was excited to see the Chiefs and, perhaps, catch a glimpse of Taylor Swift cheering on her boyfriend, Travis Kelce.
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A GoFundMe page created to support Megan’s medical expenses has already raised over $90,000, with friends, family, and well-wishers rallying behind the grieving family.
